Independent coffee operator, Spice & Grind, to open first café at Eden

Spice & Grind, a coffee company based in New Bailey, Salford, has been selected by ECF (formerly the English Cities Fund) to operate the ground floor café at Eden (a £36 million, 115,000 sq ft, 12-storey office building in New Bailey, Salford) which will serve both its occupiers as well as the public.

An ideal place to meet colleagues, peers, or collaborators in a more relaxed environment – or to simply have a break away from desks – the café area forms part of Eden’s stunning open-plan reception, which has been designed to match the feel created by the living wall responsible for its striking external appearance.

With Eden – developed by ECF (our strategic joint venture with Homes England and Legal & General) – we wanted to both push the boundaries of sustainable construction while also creating a space that provided occupiers with an exceptional user experience away from home, in a setting that enables effective collaboration, learning, and working.

The café is central to this, with founder and owner of Spice & Grind, Samantha Seddon, overseeing a menu of expertly made coffee along with an array of wholesome light bites including grazing boards, a variety of filled bagels, pastries, and sweet treats.

Serving as a connecting point between those working in the building and the wider New Bailey community, the café will foster community spirit and togetherness, and dovetails with Eden’s sustainability credentials; there is planting throughout the ground floor, FSC timber, and a stunning countertop made from 85% recycled glass.

Creating spaces and places that a whole community can benefit from is central to responsible placemaking and is an ethos at the heart of Eden.

Phil Marsden, Managing Director North West said:

Samantha Seddon, Spice & Grind, comments:

“I am so excited! My business started out in a horsebox which, when I bought it to renovate, still had hay in it! To be moving from that, in New Bailey where Eden is situated, into a building I have watched grow before my eyes onto Salford’s skyline, is more than I could ever have dreamt of.

“Central to my brand, to Spice & Grind, is relationships; getting to know the customers and building a community centred around premium coffee and a premium service. That is what those working in and around Eden can expect from me and I can’t wait to get started!”

Tom Stannard, CEO, Salford City Council, adds:

“The contribution Eden continues to make to the regeneration of Salford is admirable, with its people first approach helping the community and economy to thrive. This café is supporting a local entrepreneur, creating jobs, encouraging footfall and providing a place for people to meet, connect and support each other. We are proud of what Eden is delivering and thrilled for Samantha – she, like Eden, is a trailblazer.”

With the highest NABERS UK Design Reviewed Target Rating for a new-build development in the UK to date and the largest living wall in Europe, Eden is one of the UK’s most sustainable office buildings, designed using the UK Green Building Council’s 2030 – 2035 standards and with the capability to run on 100% renewable electricity.

Current occupiers of Eden include law firm TLT and accountants BDO.

Retained letting agents on the building are JLL, Cushman and Wakefield and OBI.