The newest addition to Harrogate‘s coffee shop scene opened its doors today.
Grane Coffee and Bakery, located on Station Parade in a unit formerly occupied by The Chocolate Works, serves a range of coffee, tea, baked goods and sandwiches.
Owner Rod Hardman previously told the Stray Ferret it would be “arguably the coolest and most stylish boutique bakery” the town has to offer.
Following a £150,000 refurbishment, Mr Hardman today said he has brought to life the “sleek Scandinavian-style shop” he hoped for, adding:
“We were working 16-to-18-hour days to turn it around.
“I wanted a cool looking shop and I think we’ve achieved what we wanted to achieve.”
Grane is Mr Hardman’s first hospitality venture, after previously working in fashion for the likes of Flannels and Hugo Boss.
The shop features a £10,000 coffee machine, which Mr Hardman said was shipped over from Naples, as well as a mural of fashion brands he previously worked with or sold.
When asked why he opened the shop, he said:
“When I worked in fashion, the number one question we’d always get asked when serving customers was, ‘where can we find a nice coffee round here?’, and we never had a good one to recommend.
“I felt there was a lack of good quality coffee, so that’s what we’re bringing.”
A wide range of ingredients and foods are also on offer to buy at Grane.
These include a variety of pastas, including Dolce & Gabbana pasta, Italian sauces, Asian condiments, and sweet treats, such as chocolate and flavoured popcorn.
Mr Hardman, who is originally from Leeds but now lives in Masham, added:
“I feel people don’t really talk in coffee shops anymore. I wanted to inspire them while they’re here.
“People can order a coffee and then shop for different produce, like the tomato sauces for example, and when they sit down they can feel inspired to cook a delicious meal using them that evening.”
Mr Hardman said the reception to his venture had so far been “unreal”:
“We had 25 customers within the first hour and a half – it has been unreal.
“On Sunday, when we were here at around midnight, a lady and her daughter were crossing the road, and I heard the daughter say ‘how cool does that look?’ and pointed at the shop”
Grane Coffee and Bakery is open Tuesday to Sunday.
The coffee shop and store opens at 8am — with the bakery opening at 9am — until 5pm.
Read more:
- New Harrogate bakery and coffee shop will be a ‘game changer’, says owner
- Are there too many coffee shops in Harrogate?
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