Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/556538
42 STiR tea & coffee industry international / Issue 4, 2015 (August/September) up in this major conurbation, and in the spirit of openness and friendship he encourages many of them to succeed by giving them advice and help. www.boldstreetcoffee.co.uk Harlequin Coffee & Tea House/The Attic, York (northeast) Harlequin is a tearoom based on the first floor of a popular tourist destina- tion in York. It's not where you expect to find great coffee, but it seems the people of York are not deterred by the chain store coffee available on the ground floor, or by the flights of stairs you have to climb to get to this gem in the sky. Once on the first floor you can get your cream teas and afternoon tea sandwiches, mixed in with some of the best brewed coffee in the North. The more mature clientele enjoy freshly-brewed tea, well-brewed espresso, and quality cappuccinos. Yet another venture up some more stairs takes you to The Attic bar. Here the pure focus is on providing an amazing taste experience; not just in coffee, but also in craft ales and fine gin. It's like the owner has opened up his house and treats everyone like a guest, spoiling them with food, beer, spirits and fantastic coffee. Both Harlequin and The Attic are owned by the 2013 Coffee in Good Spirits champion and 2015 Brewers Cup champion, Gordon Howell, but they're most definitely run by his amazing wife, Marie. This duo continues to show that great coffee will draw people in, regardless of location or your core clientele. www.harlequinyork.com Flat Caps Coffee, Newcastle (northeast) Joe Meagher is Flat Cap Joe, owner of the must-visit coffee shop in New- castle. Despite his love of the black and white of Newcastle United, Meagher isn't all bad. Unashamedly, he says, 'it is true, our main priority is coffee, and to serve it at its very best', which he does every time. His focus is on the qual- ity. Being a UK Barista Championship finalist in 2013 and 2014, Meagher's built a name for quality and attention to detail, but he's also built a name for his shop as one of the most comfortable environments in which to drink coffee. www.flatcapscoffee.com Brew Lab, Edinburgh (Scotland) Scotland tried to secede the Union, but we convinced them that we love them down here in England. One of the main reasons to love Scotland (apart from their amazing whisky) is Brew Lab. Brew Lab is a specialty coffee shop in Edinburgh, serving a range of single-origin filter, espresso and cold brew cof- fees, as well as a selection of artisanal food with local provenance. Run by Tom Hyde and Dave Law, Brew Lab is part of a strong growth in the Scottish coffee scene, with Glasgow, Dear Green and Artisan Roast also pushing the boundaries. www.brewlabcoffee.co.uk Established Coffee, Belfast (Northern Ireland) It would be remiss not to take a ferry across to the remaining part of these isles and visit the town of Belfast; famous for building a sinking ship in the Titanic, and now known for Established, which is a huge space where hospital- ity is central to the amazing coffee experience. Although new to the specialty scene, it has become the must-see coffee shop of Belfast, and much of that is due to 2013 Irish AeroPress Champion Mark Ashbridge and partner Bridget Barbour's hard work. twitter.com/established So, this was a whistle-stop tour of the UK, taking in all that coffee has to show you outside of London. It's not to say there are not some amazing places in London, but getting out into the provinces can reap great rewards. Steve Leighton is head bean browner and owner of Has Bean Coffee, and outgoing National Coordinator for the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe UK Chapter. Harlequin, York, UK Flat Caps Coffee, Newcastle, UK Bold Street Coffee, Liverpool, UK Established Coffee, Belfast, Northern Ireland Brew Lab, Edinburgh, Scotland