New leisure centre café officially opened

Official opening of the new SOHO Coffee Co. outlet in Bradley Stoke.

Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre officially opened its doors to SOHO Coffee Co. this week.

It is the first time that the outlet, which offers fresh food and organic fair trade coffee, has been located in a leisure centre and its opening celebrates the culmination of a larger programme of investment by Active Leisure Centre operator Circadian Trust.

Trustees Sid Ralphs and Rob Wimbush cut the ribbon to mark the occasion and welcome leisure centre users, local councillors and media to tour the new facilities.

Since 2012, Circadian Trust, the social enterprise that runs the Active Leisure Centres in South Gloucestershire, has invested a quarter of a million pounds into Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre.

The gym facilities received a major facelift in November, with a new functional fitness area, a 20% increase in floor space and 20 new pieces of techno-gym equipment. The public areas have also been renovated with a redesigned reception and additional fast track area for customers.

The developments at Bradley Stoke are also part of a wider investment programme by Circadian Trust in its eight-strong Active Leisure Centres. This has recently included new gym facilities at Longwell Green and Kingswood as well as renovation of the soft play area at Yate.

SOHO Coffee Co. director Penny Manuel said:

“The official launch of our first leisure centre-based outlet is a momentous occasion for SOHO. We are certain the outlet at Bradley Stoke will prove to be a great success, and we are very thankful to the Trustees for giving us such a warm welcome.”

Ben Beasley, director of commercial development for Circadian Trust, commented:

“We are always seeking ways to improve the customer experience and offering at our Leisure Centres. The partnership with SOHO Coffee means we are now able to offer our customers a recognised national brand offering high quality, ethical catering. We hope the launch at Bradley Stoke will be the first of many.”

Within the new partnership, all the incumbent staff from the leisure centre’s previous café were retained and trained by SOHO’s own operations team. The 105-cover outlet will service both eat-in and takeaway trade for all day-parts.

SOHO offers customers its trademark and Fairtrade coffees, along with a selection of handmade foods. With outlets across the UK and internationally, South Gloucestershire customers will be more than familiar with the brand with outlets in Bristol’s Cabot Circus and Cribbs Causeway shopping centres as well as Bristol Airport.

Photo (front row, l-r): Cllr John Ashe (Vice Chair, Bradley Stoke Town Council), Juliet Kilty (Business Support Director, Circadian Trust), Sid Ralphs (Circadian Trustee), Jon Edwards (Chair, Circadian Trust Board) and Rob Wimbush (Circadian Trustee).

Source: Press release issued on behalf of Circadian Trust

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3 comments

  1. from what i hear the prices are alot more expensive, Breakfast menu is difficult, good bye to a cheap plate of scrambled egg following swimming.

    I know alot of people that have stopped going there, due to the price increase, which is a shame

    But pleased they kept the old staff

  2. Really disappointed in the new cafe. Prices are much higher than the old cafe. There is less choice and no early dinner options . We now bring our own food to the leisure centre and eat at the tables outside the cafe.

  3. I knew this was supposed to happen. RE Cafe was a nice place to socialise, have a cup of coffee and nice time with kids family etc….
    Soho Cafe is a franchise as Costa or Starbucks. They all decided that a Capuccino has to cost £2.70, and the food choice is very limited. And being a coffee lover myself between Starbucks-Costa-Nero and Soho cafe the worst by far is Soho Cafe. But they probably pay the Leisure Centre much more money!

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