It all started by our founder, Gerry Ford, and his love of traditional Italian espresso. Back in 1997, he was
frustrated by the lack of a decent place to relax and have a really good coffee – rich, strong espresso and
creamy milk – so he set about creating a quality coffee house. A place he hoped people would feel at
home and although it seemed like a tall order, a place that made a difference to people's lives through a
sense of belonging, of warmth, good company and good spirit… and of course good coffee!