Local coffee shop short-listed for national award

Recognition for new opener.

Independent coffee shop Six Eight Kafé has been short-listed for Café Design of the Year by the Café Society. The branch nominated is the company’s second outlet, at Millennium Point.

The artisan coffee shop already has become a leader of the blossoming independent coffee scene in the Midlands, but now has plans to challenge the top coffee shops in the UK.

“Our Millennium Point Branch took over a year from our initial proposal to actually opening”, said Operations Manager Sal Zailani, “but we were delighted with the final look of the shop. It wasn’t easy, as we has so many twists, turns, setbacks and numerous design changes. At one point we had to totally re-design our frontage, as one of our suppliers couldn’t deliver a major component in time for our opening. This nomination for the design award made it all worth while”.

The design competition, held annually, sees the nation’s coffee shops being measured for ambiance, innovation, quality and introducing new concepts to the high street.

It’s not the first time Six Eight Kafé has come to national prominence as their barista Joe Beaver, won the Northern Ireland barista championships with a clean sweep of Best Espresso, Best Cappuccino and Best Signature Drink. He then went on to reach the semi-finals of the UK Barista Championships.

In 2014, eighteen year old Imogen Ludman took the UK barista championships by storm as she also reached the semi-finals and then went on to win the best newcomer award.

The awards will be presented by Celebrity Chef Aldo Zilli at the Grange Tower Bridge Hotel, London on Thursday 24th September 2015.