Background
Fawn Coffee began its journey in 2022, driven by the founders’ desire to create a welcoming and stress-free environment in the hospitality industry. Ashley, with a background in film and indie media, and Tom, an actor turned manager, both had extensive experience in the restaurant industry in London. Their goal was to establish a business where they could treat both people and products with respect, moving away from the high-stress environments they had previously encountered. They have sought to create a new space that isn’t centred around alcohol, leading to the birth of Fawn Coffee.
Support
Fawn Coffee received significant support from SFEDI accredited business adviser Liz Gjoni at the hive, including workshops, 1:1 business advice appointments, and networking opportunities.
The founders noted, “We recieved a lot of fantastic support from Liz Gjoni based out of the hive. Then ongoing support, seminars, and training”
In early 2024, they successfully applied for funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) funded Town Occupancy Grant, a programme designed to deliver business support to high street retailers delivered by the hive, North Somerset Council and Business West.
This support helped them secure better equipment, leading to improved consistency, quality, and training. As a result, Fawn Coffee has become a respected business for staff training, creating jobs and contributing to the local economy. The business partners’ time has been freed up to focus on growth, increasing operational hours and enabling further scaling and job creation.
The experience
Setting up Fawn Coffee involved converting a vintage 1974 caravan into a mobile coffee bar, allowing them to offer high-quality, locally roasted coffee.
The founders, a local LGBTQ+ couple, emphasise the importance of their customers, stating, “Customers are the most important thing, never underestimate their support or trust!”
They expanded to include ‘The Kiosk’ at Clevedon Court and a shop in Clevedon’s Independent shopping quarter. The shop serves as a hub for coffee lovers, offering both great coffee and home barista supplies. The support from the hive and UKSPF was crucial in improving their equipment and training capabilities, enabling them to grow their business and create jobs.
