Beanscene Goes Live at Heart of Hawick

Coffee and music house chain Beanscene has opened as the anchor tenant at the Heart of Hawick, the new multi-agency arts and heritage initiative central to the social, cultural and economic regeneration of Hawick and the wider Borders.

The Heart of Hawick recently opened with the aim of creating a community asset which not only establishes a variety of accessible cultural services but creates new work and training space to stimulate the local economy.

Beanscene was considered by the backers of the initiative to be the perfect anchor tenant for the heart of the campus at Tower Mill, a former weaving mill and category A listed building built over a river, converted into a cinema/theatre, exhibition space, visitor welcome centre, shop and workspaces for arts and media businesses.

Gordon Richardson, Beanscene founder, said, “The Heart of Hawick is the perfect platform from which to introduce Beanscene to the Borders. It’s an exciting initiative with which to partner, as our brand values are perfectly in tune with the social and cultural blend that the Heart of Hawick aims to foster.”

Evidence of that cultural blend is most obviously found in Beanscene’s regular acoustic in-store performances, for which the brand is justly renowned throughout Scotland’s thriving live music scene. Performers at Beanscene stores over recent months have included such established music artists as Chris Difford and Boo Hewerdine, while a string of performers has already been lined up for the Heart of Hawick.

September’s live schedule comprises performances from Ainslie, Mark Reid, The Garden Party and Andi Neate. All performances are free and kick-off at 9pm.

As well as a wide selection of coffees, soft drinks, ice blended drinks and accompanying muffins, baguettes, sandwiches and pastries, Beanscene offers, tapas plates,pizza, paella and nachos – with a healthy options menu available for kids. Customers can also enjoy a beer or glass of wine when they dine at the Heart of Hawick.

The opening at the Heart of Hawick is the latest in a string of recent store openings for the chain. Whilst there are currently 13 Beanscene stores spread throughout Scotland, the growth strategy is to open up to 45 stores over the course of the next three years, comprising three managed superstores surrounded by a mix of up to 15 Beanscene and Beanscene Espresso stores.