Place where friends and colleagues meet
A business park might not seem the ideal place to get away from the daily grind.
But new coffee lounge The Grind is proving to be just that - ideal.
With its motto of “Where Friends and Colleagues Meet” it truly does offer something for everyone.
Whether you are an office worker looking for a mental break for half an hour, a businessman seeking a more inspiring place to sit with your laptop and a coffee, or simply looking to have a leisurely lunch with a friend or a welcoming place to relax with your family, The Grind is happy to cater for you.
The coffee lounge is the brainchild of family duo, local businessman Jim Hughes and his son Steven, a successfful businessman in his own right, and managed by experienced coffee shop manager and qualified chef Andy Harrower.
Based at Lomond Court within Castle Business Park, the venue is already proving popular with employees from the surrounding offices and businesses.
But its reputation for great quality food, speciality teas and coffee, spacious surroundings and a warm welcome is rapidly spreading beyond its confines just weeks after its launch.
While The Grind uses quality, fresh produce, much of it locally sourced from renowned businesses such as Mhor Bakery in Callander and Falleninch Farm butchers, or from quality Scottish suppliers such as Soaves Ice Cream, it comes at an affordable price.
The Grind caters for all tastes and diets including gluten free, vegetarian and vegan and are always happy to listen to requests.
A word of warning, however. The baked potatoes have attracted some complaint because they are overflowing with filling!
With a range of delicious speciality teas plus a host of coffees made from The Grind’s very own blend and delivered by the baristas via the specially designed coffee machine from Italy, not to mention the delicious hot chocolate made from shavings of real chocolate, there is also plenty to choose from if you just want to relax and chill.
Attention to detail is paramount, whether it is in the quality of the menu or the welcome of the surroundings, and even the positioning of the coffee machine has been given plenty thought to ensure customers can watch their coffee being made while still being able to chat to staff.
The Grind features a selection of thoughtfully arranged seating - from comfortable couches to dining chairs and armchairs and even a breakfast bar/laptop area and well spaced out tables in the spacious floor.
And even the toilet facilities have been given a blue and pink theme, with a nearby delightfully decorated baby changing area supplying those spare nappies, wipes and nappy bags for any parents who are caught on the hop. Breast feeding mums are also catered for, whether they wish to feed their baby in the main area or in a quieter space nearby.
Jim, who runs his own chauffeur drive business, said: “World-renowned chefs are among my clients and have given us a lot of advice. Our standard is very high. We want the food to be the best, not just good, and not limited by our modest pricing. It is specialist without the specialist prices.
“We want this to be a destination for people.”
Customers who are pushed for time are welcome to order by phone and simply uplift. All takeaway packaging is biodegradable.
As well as the coffee lounge and dining area, The Grind also features a number of meeting rooms for hire, not just by businesses in the park but also open for hire by the public and there is free wifi as well as dedicated parking spaces.
The Grind is open from 8.30am until 4.30pm Monday to Friday, with Saturday opening starting from April.