A speciality coffee shop has expanded by opening another branch in Newcastle-under-Lyme’s town centre.
Piccoloco, which started out as a coffee van on the market, has taken over the café space inside Keele in Town on Ironmarket.
The new venue – a town centre base for Keele University – will be open to the general public and exist alongside Piccoloco’s current business on Hassell Street.
It will be open between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday, and Saturday 10am until 4pm, with 10 per cent discount available for Keele students with a valid student ID.
Piccoloco’s founder Jonathan Hill said: “We started out with a coffee van in the market back in February 2020, and after the Covid lockdowns we returned and increased our business. Following that we opened our shop in Hassall Street a couple of years ago, and now here we are two years on, moving into a second venue here at Keele in Town, which is great news and very exciting.
“It’s quite humbling from where we started, but the good, loyal support from the public that used to visit me in the van, and the confidence we’ve gained from that has enabled us to get to this position, and it’s presented a great opportunity for us, and hopefully for Keele as well.”
Keele in Town, which opened in February, was established to provide a space for Keele students and staff to get together, study, and to connect with the community including local businesses and non-profit organisations.
The university has said the café service provided by Piccoloco will help to complete the vision for the building’s offering in the town centre.
The Piccoloco team has a history of engaging with the university, having been one of the first businesses to take part in the FLOURISH programme, which connects undergraduate and postgraduate students with small businesses to help them grow and innovate.
Claire Nicoll, Keele in Town Venue and Facilities Manager, added: “I’m very excited to welcome Piccoloco to Keele in Town. Not only do they have a strong brand and following in Newcastle, and of course, great coffee, which will bring lots more people into the town and into the Keele in Town venue, but they’ve got a great history of working with Keele after taking part in our FLOURISH programme, which makes them a natural fit for the new cafe partner at Keele in Town. I enjoy working with Ben and Jon and look forward to watching the business grow more.”
- Read more about the FLOURISH programme, including feedback from Piccoloco, here.
