Black Sheep Coffee opens Colchester city centre shop

Black Sheep Coffee was officially launched at the Lion Walk Shopping Centre on Tuesday.

The brand has stores across the UK, France and the Philippines but the Colchester site marks its first venture into Essex.

Some of the goods on offer include 100 per cent specialty grade Robusta coffee, milkshakes and freshly baked pastries.

Open for business - the new Black Sheep Coffee in Lion Walk (Image: Newsquest)

Taking orders - the first customers inside the shop (Image: Newsquest)

The fresh venue will also be transformed into a late cocktail bar by night.

Lion Walk boss Martin Leatherdale said: “It is fantastic to get Black Sheep open and trading. It has been long anticipated and very well received, and it’s certainly not short of customers.

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“This will only grow as the incredible £1 million regeneration of St Nicholas Square by Colchester Council starts to come to fruition this summer.”

The brand was founded by university flatmates Eirik Holth and Gabriel Shohet in 2013.

Snazzy - inside the shop (Image: Elizabeth Trustrum, North Essex Larder)

In a joint statement, they said: “We are so excited to be opening in Colchester and can’t wait to welcome you all in store now we’re open.”

One of the first customers inside the shop was Elizabeth Trustrum, of the North Essex Larder which champions business in the area.

She said: "It's great to see such a big unused space in the centre of the Lion Walk Shopping Centre being utilised for such a high spec brand”. 

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