An independent Derby-based brunch and coffee business has found a new home in London following the closure of a Jack Wills store.
In April last year, BEAR launched a partnership with the fashion retailer, which saw it open a cafe within the firm’s Soho store.
However, last month it was announced that the store was to shut due to rising business rates and the failure of talks with landlords to renegotiate rents.
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The demise of the Jack Wills store left BEAR without a London presence. However, the firm has announced that it has struck a new partnership, which has seen it open a cafe within a large Paperchase store, in Tottenham Court Road.
In a blogpost on BEAR’s website, the firm said: “Due to Jack Wills’ forced closure of their Soho store, BEAR was sadly deemed homeless.
“Luckily for us, we had some wonderful buddies over at the Paperchase head office on Tottenham Court Road who were eager to open a coffee shop inside the store located below their workspace.
“BEAR is located on the first floor of Paperchase; a bright, colourful space overlooking the hustle and bustle of Tottenham Court Road. It makes the perfect spot for watching the world go by with a coffee in hand.”
BEAR was founded by Craig Bunting and Michael Thorley, who started out with their first outlet in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire.
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Since then, the company, which serves speciality coffee, brunch and cocktails, has grown at a rapid pace and now has branches in Stone, as well as two in Derby - in Iron Gate and the Intu Derby shopping centre.
This year, the company is planning to open another outlet at Barons Quay, in Northwich, Cheshire.
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The firm has ambitions to open up to 30 sites over the next five years and become a high street challenger brand to the likes of Costa and Starbucks.
Towards the end of last year, BEAR beat off competition from major brands, including Primark, IKEA and JD Sports, to win the Re:tale award at the Revo Gold Awards for its partnership with Intu.
When BEAR linked up with Jack Wills it was something of a coup for the Derby business.
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The relationship came about after the firm’s global property director visited the firm’s Iron Gate branch and was so impressed with the product and levels of customer service that they offered BEAR a prime spot in the Soho store.
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However, last summer the fashion retailer was sold for £12.75 million to the Mike Ashley-owned Frasers Group (then known as Sports Direct International) via a pre-pack administration deal.
Since then, a number of Jack Wills stores across the country have shut.