Barrister turns barista as ‘former X Factor’ lawyer opens coffee shop in Horsham

Glynde Place Espresso opened in Glynde Place, off Middle Street, towards the end of September in the unit previously occupied by Materialistic Curtain and Carpet Studios.

Owner Colin Millar, who explained that he worked as a former lawyer on television shows such as the X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent and Grand Designs, set up the business with his wife after moving to the town.

He said: “When you tell someone you’re opening a coffee shop it usually results in the rolling of eyes and the ironic comment ‘Another coffee shop? - just what Horsham needs!

“They’re quite right. Horsham is blessed with many lovely coffee and tea shops.

“When my wife and I moved here we decided to pursue a lifelong dream of opening the sort of coffee shop that we’d like to go into with fantastic, small-batch hand-roasted coffee, in a nicely designed room with a quality food offering that wouldn’t break the bank.

“We hope that we’ve achieved this with Glynde Place Espresso.”

As well as Union Hand Roasted coffee, Teapigs tea and their food selection, Glynde Place Espresso also sells wholebeans, ground coffee, coffee brewing equipment and books.

Mr Millar continued: “It’s a challenge to get people to turn left or right off Middle Street and to break their coffee drinking habits but being slightly away from the action does provide for a slightly less intense environment.

“With our flat whites and other specialist drinks priced at £2 or below, sandwiches at £2.50 and muffins, pastries and cakes at no more than £1.50, we hope we can offer an alternative for people like ourselves in the ‘squeezed middle’ who still want great quality food and drink but at a competitive price.

“Our Facebook reviews over the short period we’ve been open suggest we’ve managed to achieve this but it’s only a start and we’ve a long way to go to establish ourselves in a hugely competitive market.”

The shops is open six days a week from Monday to Saturday.

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