Another tenant signs up at The Grand, Birmingham

A Nottingham-based coffee company is set to brew up a storm in Birmingham when it opens its first shop in the city at The Grand on Colmore Row.

200 Degrees Coffee has agreed a ten-year lease on Unit 1 (1,500 sq ft) at an annual rent of £90,000 with the landlord, Hortons’ Estate Ltd.

Set up in 2012 by friends Tom Vincent and Rob Darby, 200 Degrees Coffee is more than just your average coffee shop. The company roasts its own beans, which it supplies to cafes and restaurants around the UK, as well as supplying equipment, such as commercial espresso machines.

200 Degrees Coffee is looking to build on the success of its shops in Nottingham with its new venture at The Grand, which as well as serving fresh ground coffee will feature a 16 seat barista school and meeting room.

Tom from 200 Degrees Coffee said: “There’s a vibrant coffee scene in Birmingham with a number of good independent operators, who have raised the bar in terms of the quality of coffee being served and the overall customer experience.

“We believe we can bring something different to the city and we’re looking forward to sharing our knowledge and love of coffee when we open our new shop at The Grand in early summer.”

200 Degrees Coffee is the fourth retail tenant to sign up at the newly restored The Grand, following lettings to shoemaker Crockett & Jones and bar and restaurants The Alchemist and Gusto.

Hortons’ has invested £14m in the restoration of The Grand to date, which includes the restoration of the facades, installation of a new roof and remodeling of the shops and offices to bring them up to modern occupier standards.

Tony Green, chief executive of Hortons’, said: “Leasing activity on the retail space at The Grand is gathering pace, with five of the ten units now let and strong interest being shown in the remaining units.

“The quality of the tenant mix is paramount to what we are trying to achieve at The Grand. It is a landmark building in the city and we want the occupiers to reflect that.”

Ben Tebbutt, director at FHP Property Consultants, who acquired the store on behalf of 200 degrees, said: “The Birmingham acquisition is just the start of what will be an exceptionally busy few years of growth for 200 Degrees Coffee.”

Agents Simon Smith and Scott Robertson of Wright Silverwood advised Hortons’ on the deal. Rachel Briggs from lawyers Austin Moore advised 200 Degrees Coffee.