News / New Openings
Cafe Grounded opens in Henleaze
The latest branch of Cafe Grounded has opened on Northumbria Drive in Henleaze next door to the Orpheus Cinema.
Decked out in the chain’s customary dark red, with fresh flowers on the tables and local art on the walls, Grounded hopes to breathe new life into this close-knit community.
is needed now More than ever
This is the ninth branch for the swiftly expanding Bristol business, who opened their first premises on Church Road in Redfield in January 2008.
Nine years on, they are recognisable all over the city, from Gloucester Road to Bedminster Parade, and also have two branches in Wiltshire, in Corsham and Melksham.
“We’ve had a great response so far,” marketing manager Katie Taylor says as we share a pot of tea and a freshly-made slice of indulgent lemon curd cheesecake.
The tables are already half-full on the first morning of opening, and there’s a buzz of excitement from the new staff every time the front door opens to customers, who are stopping in, curious, many with shopping bags from Waitrose just a couple of doors down.
“We had an eye on Henleaze for a while,” Katie says. “It’s a lovely community; active culturally, with the cinema next door and the art scene in Westbury Park, and with other food and drink establishments that people have really got behind.
“We had positive feedback about us opening here before we revealed we would. We’re always guided by spaces and communities; we always want to benefit the community and never impose.”
As in other branches of Grounded, the walls are adorned with bright artwork – currently showing vibrant oil seascapes painted by Anna Duckworth, who lives just a few streets away. She contacted them on social media to put herself forward, and is the first of many artists who will use Grounded as their gallery.
The menu has also been given a January spring clean, with a new executive chef working on dishes that focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients.
“We’ve only been open a few hours, and we’ve already been approached to run some local music events with a singing group, which we hope to start doing regularly,” Katie says excitedly over the rush of steam, as the newly trained baristas put the coffee machine through its paces.
It’s clear that the aim of Grounded Henleaze is to become a hub and a focus for the area, and somewhere that the community will enjoy coming back to. And, if the cheesecake is anything to go by, it ought to be a roaring success.
Grounded, 45-47 Northumbria Drive, Henleaze, Bristol, BS9 4HN
0117 9622 333
www.cafegrounded.co.uk/contact/grounded-henleaze
Read more: Westbury Park pub given new lease of life