News / Carpentry
Bristol’s coffee-fueled carpenter
You’ll already know Will Ireland. Until recently he was a barista in Full Court Press on Broad Street and before that he co-owned the dearly departed Didn’t You Do Well cafe on Park Row.
What you may not know is that before entering the coffee industry, Will spent many hours making things – all sorts of things – out of metal, cloth and wood. In fact, he still does spend many hours making things; just now he has turned it into a career rather than just a hobby.
Will left FCP to work as a woodworker full-time from his studio in Frampton Cotterell, often using the contacts that he made in his previous job to make products for the coffee industry, such as the bespoke benches outside Small Street Espresso.
is needed now More than ever
You might be sat on these very benches outside Small Street Espresso reading this very article
Will’s portafilter handles and tampers (including one made from the beech from the former counter at Didn’t You Do Well) are things of beauty, with some of his other recent work including a new bar for Colonna & Small’s cafe in Bath, new tables for Has Bean roasters in Staffordshire and – closer to home – a bar for Good Chemistry when their brewery in St Phillip’s becomes a taproom.
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Will also designed and made the trophies for this year’s Speciality Coffee Association Brewers Cup, coincidentally won by another former FCP barista, Dave Cullen of Clifton Coffee.
“It’s just so satisfying learning the skills to produce something,” Will told Bristol24/7. “To take raw materials and turn them into something both functional and beautiful.”
Will will be selling his wares at Hart’s Bakery’s Small Is Beautiful market on Saturday, December 16. To get in touch with Will, email wgeorgedesigns@gmail.com.
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Main photo by Tessa Edmondson
Read more: Hart’s Bakery celebrates five years at Temple Meads with a month of special events
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