News / lockleaze
‘Car wash coffee shop’ opens in Lockleaze
Squeegees and chamois cloths are the usual tools you’d expect to see in hand when arriving at the car wash in Lockleaze.
But now, coffee cups and cakes are on the cards too, with the opening of the new Lockleaze Coffee Shop in a transformed unit on the car wash site on Constable Road.
Customers are immediately greeted with the aroma of fresh Italian coffee as soon as the door swings open and the warmest of smiles from behind the counter from local mum and business owner Kellie Griffiths.
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It is Kellie who has set in motion the new quirky coffee shop venture with her daughter, Ella, alongside the car wash owner and site manager, known locally as Soni.
Opening just two weeks ago, Kellie says they are creating a place local people feel welcome and can come to socialise, relax and drink great coffee.
Lockleaze Coffee Shop has opened in a transformed unit on the car wash site on Constable Road – photo: Emily Shimmell
“It’s somewhere you can walk to and sit in for a lovely cappuccino, there’s a little decking area outside where you can sit with your dog or you can have a take away cuppa whilst you wait for your car to be washed,” Kellie tells Bristol24/7.
“You’re always going to see a local face; you can just come in for a natter. it’s a little meeting place where everyone is welcome.”
The cafe will soon be serving hot food, such as paninis and pasties, alongside coffees and locally-made cakes.
“We want to provide food that local people want. Nothing too extravagant or fancy, just simple, affordable food at a place that locals want to come to regularly,” says Kellie.
Her aim is to make customers happy and make the venture a Lockleaze success story.
She continues: “We are starting small, but ultimately, we would love to extend and expand. We want to have a locally-run business that Lockleaze is proud of.”
Kellie says that lots of people walking through the door love the fact they know her, adding: “I have worked in the pharmacy on Gainsborough Square in Lockleaze for 13 years. Hopefully those same people will come along and support mine and Ella’s new coffee shop.”
Local residents have been flooding social media with positive comments and support too, and Kellie says she is so warmed by the support they’ve had already.
One local resident, Sarah Ramage, suggests it’s the new place to be in Lockleaze, saying: “They’ve done a really great job of making it a lovely place to be”.
Lockleaze resident Deborah Jones says that the hot chocolate is the best she has ever had, adding: “It’s well worth the visit, absolutely gorgeous hot chocolate and I had some yummy doughnuts too! Such a lovely friendly service.”
Ella says she’s proud to have opened a coffee shop to serve locals in her neighbourhood – photo: Kellie Griffiths
Ella Griffiths, 20, has been a barista for a few years and says she is thrilled to now have the opportunity to take on this new project with her mum in her own neighbourhood.
“I love making coffees, I love meeting people and chatting with the locals,” says Ella.
“Me and my mum are born and bred in Lockleaze, I went to school here too. It’s fantastic we are now able to provide local people and our friends and family with something we’ve all been asking for for years.”
Ella adds: “I love Lockleaze. I’m so glad to be able to add something to the area that I call my home.”
Lockleaze Coffee Shop can be found at the Lockleaze Hand Car Wash on Constable Road and is open seven days a week from 9am – 4pm.
Emily Shimell is reporting on Lockleaze as part of Bristol24/7’s community reporter scheme, a project which aims to tell stories from areas of Bristol traditionally under-served by the mainstream media
Main photo: Emily Shimell
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