Popular coffee shop opens in prime location

A popular coffee shop has opened a new cafe in one of Teesside’s most prestigious office developments.

Bentley’s Coffee Shop is the latest arrival at Northshore One in Stockton. Engineering consultancy WSP moved there last Spring and has since taken more space.  Later in the year it was joined by Wood, another engineering and consulting business, and a third company Emmerson Process Management.  Just one half of a floor – around 5,000 sq ft -remains available.

Richard Wilson – a senior associate with commercial property agency Dodds Brown which has helped bring the companies to Northshore and also manages the building – said: “This is a fantastic modern office building in one of the best locations in the Tees Valley. We are delighted that it’s accommodating such successful and impressive companies and we would like to hear from anybody interested in joining them.”

He added: “Bentley’s Coffee Shop is a great addition and I’m so pleased to see this local family-run business doing so well.”

Bentley’s was launched in 2019 when Martin Smith left his job as a supermarket manager and used his redundancy pay to start the first café in Coulby Newham. 

He now runs four cafes and employs around 20 people – including several members of Martin’s family – and in September opened a Bentley’s Coffee Shop in Boho One in Middlesbrough. 

The business is named after Martin’s partner Emily Bentley who also helps run it.  She is confident the new cafe will prove extremely popular with the occupiers of Northshore One as well as people working nearby.

“I think people from Teesdale Business Park will enjoy a walk across the Infinity Bridge and pop into Northshore for a lovely cup of coffee bite to eat,” said Emily.  “We’ve received huge warmth from the local communities where we’ve opened shops.  The Coulby Newham community, for example, is just brilliant and they’ve supported us throughout COVID times and now.  Our customers are just amazing.”

As well as looking forward to the opening of its new cafe – and two more might follow later this year – Martin, Emily and the team are also celebrating the achievements of their first apprentice. 

Just before Christmas seventeen-year-old Jake Atkinson was named Hospitality Apprentice of the Year at The Northern Skills Group’ Apprenticeship Awards held at Rockcliffe Hall.

“He wants to progress to the next level and the apprenticeship route is something that we’re keen to explore further because a lot of hospitality talent was lost during COVID,” said Emily.  We want to ensure that young people who are interested in that sector have a route which allows them to progress.”

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