When England’s first coffeehouses opened in the 1600s, the rich aroma of roasting beans wasn’t the only thing wafting out into the street. The sound of loud, lively debates were a defining feature of the time, as coffee houses became important cultural spaces for people to meet, talk and exchange ideas. Dubbed “penny universities” (a reference to the price of a cup) and frequented by such luminaries as Samuel Pepys and Isaac Newton, they became almost too popular, drawing flak from everyone from women’s groups – who said coffee made men sterile and “as unfruitful as the sandy deserts from where that unhappy berry is said to be brought” – to a panicky Charles II, who tried to ban them for links to republicanism.
Over the years, coffee’s favours have ebbed and flowed. Losing out to tea in the 18th and 19th centuries, it surged back in the 20th via megachains such as Starbucks and Costa. But new trends are now bending the arc of history full circle, with modern consumers demanding a more well-rounded, community-focused offering from their cafes and coffee houses.
One of the best examples of this new ethos can be found on a bustling street in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter. Foundation Coffee House, just off Stevenson Square, boasts an expansive space that is simultaneously a coffee house, creative studio, co-working hub, events space and a great deal more besides.
Inside, light streams through floor-to-ceiling windows illuminating a huge, industrial space; gleaming white tiles, high ceilings and subtle nods to Manchester’s engineering heritage are accented with bursts of lush greenery, creating a relaxed, low-key vibe. Even at 10am the place is buzzing – with students and freelancers tapping away, businesspeople in meetings and creative types framed artfully against the windows – and you immediately sense this is more than a basic coffee joint.
Dominic Beardwell, managing director, and Katie Lea, brand director.
“Our motto is ‘built from the ground up’ which pretty much nails us,” says Foundation’s brand director, Katie Lea. Opened four years ago as a partnership between founder Adam Chapman and design studio NoChintz, Foundation has forgone the usual “get equity, grow rapidly” model so many businesses fall foul of, in favour of a longer, more sustainable route. It’s been tough, but the result is undeniably impressive. “As creative people, we knew upcoming trends,” says Lea. “Wellness, co-working spaces, places that do more than coffee. But we needed the right location, so it took us a bit longer to get it right.”
Managing director Dominic Beardwell echoes this: “Sure, we have to cover the basics, but people also want events, workspaces and art, which meant a high-street location.” Beardwell attributes Foundation’s success to three things: its multi-use nature, its central location and its ability to grow without incurring debt. “It’s so easy to get money, but debt sinks businesses. We wanted to do things differently.”
Being different has forced Foundation to innovate. Forging strategic partnerships with the right suppliers has been key, and practices that would scare others have been adopted with relish. “We went cashless,” Beardwell explains, pointing to improved queue times as proof it’s already working. Another association, with Swedish fintech company iZettle, has also proven critical. “iZettle have been great,” Beardwell says of the brand providing Foundation’s POS devices and payment systems. “Some companies can be very faceless, but they’re always there at the end of the phone. They’ve helped smooth the installation process, and even came down for a site visit at a new location we’re opening. They seem genuinely interested in our growth, which has been refreshing.”
At Foundation, this financial independence affords customers a more well-rounded offering. “Independence means flexibility,” says general manager Hannah Mitchell, explaining how setting their own agenda creates space for everything from yoga lessons to art exhibitions. There is also a clear focus on people with a similarly independent mindset. This spring the walls hosted local photographer Madeleine Penfold’s Yoga Teachers of Manchester exhibition, and different events take place daily. “We’ve got the space and the confidence to do it,” says Mitchell. “We like to give unique creatives a platform.”
Now, like the coffeehouses of old, Foundation has built up a real community of its own. “Some coffee shops get a bit funny if you’re there all day,” says Skoti Pepper, a freelance movement coach, “but here I work uninterrupted.” Another punter, paleontology student Adam Dickson, has been coming for years. “The coffee is great and the staff are lovely,” he says, “and I like the aesthetic. Not too try-hard.”
Nicola Fernandes created Foundation postcards, hosted an exhibition here, and painted the spoons.
But it is artist and illustrator Nicola Fernandes who best sums up Foundation’s appeal. “I love how you evolve the space,” she says. “It’s blank, but also not blank. A perfect canvas.” Fernandes started coming for coffee, but soon found herself swept up in a growing community of like-minded artists, poets and creatives. She has since created Foundation postcards, hosted an exhibition in the space for the Manchester bee installation she painted, and put on a speed-mate event called Draw Me Like One of Your French Girls. “I even painted the spoons!” she adds, pointing proudly at our table numbers.
It is this collective, collaborative, creative approach that has seen Foundation grow into a formidable cultural hub, a trend that looks set to continue well into the future. “We’ve just got our own signature coffee from long-term partners Origin,” says Mitchell, heading back to the counter to help clean up. “We’ve expand to a second site across town, in Whitworth Street, and we just hosted our first wedding! It’s all happening.”
