Cool new café bar is brewing in city centre
PLAN TO OPEN IN HULL’S NEW K2 DEVELOPMENT
A NEW artisan café bar could be opening in Hull city centre by Christmas.
Tom Sowerby, 32, is the man behind the successful Boardroom in Newland Avenue, which allows punters the chance to play a range of board games while having a craft beer or a coffee.
Now, Mr Sowerby plans to open new venue Brew in Albion Street as part of the K2 development.
He said: “I want to create a café bar with a nice relaxed atmosphere that specialises in local craft beers, artisan coffee and loose leaf tea that also caters for vegetarians and vegans.
“We will work with local companies, such as Atom, and our coffee will be roasted locally and ground on site.”
Hull’s K2 building, in Bond Street, has seen an influx of businesses since it opened on the back of a £6m renovation.
The first phase of apartments has been completed, with a further 42 apartments set to be finished early next year.
The scheme should benefit from Hull City Council’s Albion Square development, which will see the redevelopment of the site currently occupied by the old Bhs and Co-op department stores, as well as the derelict Edwin Davis building.
Mr Sowerby believes the timing and location for the new café bar is perfect.
He said: “The plan is to try and add to the regeneration of the area and offer something different.
“While we have similar places in the Avenues and Humber Street, there is nothing like that in this area of the city.”
John Benson, of Benson Planning Studio, is the agent behind the application.
He said: “There has been an absence of investment in this part of the city, but with the revamped Hull New Theatre, K2 and the Albion Square plans, I think Tom is coming in at the right time.
“This fits in with the objectives of the council. There has been a pre-planning meeting with the council, which was positive, and it is aware the application is coming.”
Mr Sowerby wants the new venue to be stripped back and understated.
He said: “I want the décor to be quite clean and bright and will have a Scandi chic look.
“We won’t be serving meals as such, it will be more snacks and deli-style food. We will look to open at 8am for the coffee run and we may serve breakfast.
“We will be removing many of the internal walls to make it much more open plan.
“The feedback I have had has been very positive and people who work in the offices round here say there is nowhere like this to go to for lunch.”
Having run The Boardroom for three years, Mr Sowerby feels ready to open a second business.
He said: “As time has gone on I have been able to take a bit of a step back from The Boardroom and now I am ready to open a second bar.”
Brew will employ around six people and will open from 8am to late.
If planning permission is granted Mr Sowerby hopes to open in time for Christmas.