Brewer joins coffee shop frenzy

Scottish & Newcastle brewery is leaping on to the coffee shop bandwagon with the fast and furious roll-out of a concept designed by Revolution.

Espres is being piloted in Leith, Edinburgh and Manchester. S&N has acquired eight London sites from restaurant Sofra, to be converted over the next two months, and plans 100 more outlets.

Revolution has created the name, branding and interiors of Espres along the line of US TV series Friends, says group director Eddie McAtominey. “S&N wanted to target a female market,” with a mellow atmosphere, he adds.

Meanwhile, the interiors and leisure group will open an office in the Middle East in the next two months to better service clients such as Debenhams in Dubai.

Revolution’s 65-strong design and interactive divisions are soon to move to central London from Enfield. Its printing operation will remain in Middlesex while the London offer will reposition to focus on creativity rather than being service-based.