Northern Greats: Grindsmith
As part of our series meeting the creatives resident at Manchester's Great Northern Warehouse, we catch up with Grindsmith coffee shop
Whether you like pourover or Aeropress, flat whites or long blacks, Manchester’s coffee shop scene leaves the chain establishments eating, well, superior single origin coffee-flavoured dust.
And in a great pool of talent, Grindsmith’s stellar trajectory – starting out as a cart and now occupying a permanent space in the Great Northern Warehouse – has been particularly noteworthy. We spoke to co-founder Peter Gibson about life in the Great Northern, his trike, and how a temporary situation can become a permanent one very quickly.
The Skinny: From a cart to a pod to a full-blown shop, Grindsmith have really grown in the last two years – how has the transition been?
Grindsmith: Fast, exciting and unbelievable. When we opened the pod in February we never imagined the position we would be in 12 months later. Our aim was to produce exceptional coffee and to present it in new and creative ways. The positive response we had from our humble beginnings on Greengate Square blew us away. The new shop has opened up numerous opportunities and has taken Grindsmith from two men in a shed making brews to a company with 10 staff, two shops, a mobile trike and exciting plans for the coming year.
What's been the highlight of your time at the Great Northern so far?
The new shop shares space with Central Working and the Barclays escalator. Access to the business space is through our shop and when they hosted their launch night last November, we had over 600 people come through to see the new space in Manchester. There couldn’t have been a better way to launch our new shop and it showed how exciting and vibrant this new venture would be.
Do you often visit your American-focused neighbours like Almost Famous and All Star Lanes?
It's great to be in the same space as these successful and popular venues – we love being part of a community of original independent businesses.
What's coming up for Grindsmith? Any collaborations or events we should know about?
Currently our brains are buzzing with ideas for this year. We are trialling and experimenting with some new products and creations for summer but these are currently top secret!
The new place looks great – what made you choose the space at the Great Northern?
The events team at the Great Northern [Future Artists] approached us to use our trike for the Manchester Day Parade last year; the idea from there was to obtain a street traders' licence and run the mobile unit on the corner of Quay Street and Deansgate. However, the premises we are in now – formerly Dwell Furniture – was dormant and we were offered it on a temporary three month contract, while the licence was applied for. After a successful three months and a few conversations with all the parties involved we were granted permission to convert it into a permanent coffee shop.
What do you like most about your new home?
It is a busy space involving creative, driven and interesting people. Each day is exciting and presents new opportunities. You really feel part of a community of businesses that are working together to create a new, vibrant and creative space in the centre of the city.
If you could describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
Creative. Passionate. Innovative.
- Sponsored content
Grindsmith, 231-233 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4EN. Reach them on Twitter at @Grindsmiths