Written By Alex Vale

It is no secret that Guildford’s ever changing hospitality industry is one that has sparked competition between independent and chain-based coffee shops, with numerous stores currently and set to open by the end of the year.

Arguably one of the most underrated feats of our high streets, coffee shops undoubtedly took a hit after the COVID 19 pandemic, resulting in the loss of more than 800 independent coffee shops, cafes and local restaurants. However, with our high streets moving into a relatively post-COVID world, the coffee shop scene in Guildford in particular is one that has rapidly grown.

Gails, a well-known coffee chain particularly in the South of Britain recognized for its lavish brand and wealthy reputation, commented on their presence in Guildford’s high streets: “As a high end and busy brand, we found that Guildford was a large town with a wealthy demographic perfect for our business.”

When it came to the clash between chain based and independent coffee shops, one associate stated that their wider recognition in the area as a large coffee brand was one that sets them apart from the independent sector of the coffee shop industry, with winter spending further aiding in the firm’s recent success.

New to Guildford’s coffee scene are Black Sheep, a trendy chain-based café branching out from London to Guildford’s wealthy and large population.  An interview with the local manager revealed that, “The variety found in our stores is one that is hard to find anywhere else, regardless of independence or chain-based presence in the market”.

Coffee Culture’s stance from the perspective of an independent eatery is one that differs from its widely branded competitors: “Where it is difficult to compete with such big names in an ever-changing high street, our social scene is one that cannot compare with those of chains like Café Nero and Pret A Manger” (2 other well-known coffee brands that have joints in Guildford). It is this different experience which seems to set the independent sector apart from its competitors.

A similar view was taken by Solar Sisters, a cozy, eco-friendly focused café with a view to enhancing Guildford’s sustainability. Started by 2 sisters attending Surrey University during the lockdown, the company was started to draw attention to the social aspects behind helping our environment and was surprisingly, relatively disconcerted with the growing competition associated with Guildford’s expanding coffee scene.

It seems that where these bigger brands have targeted Guildford for its wealthy reputation, more independent stores are here for the emerging and changing social scene that comes with such an emerging population. It is no secret that Guildford is a wealthy town with a rich history behind it as seen in some of the lavish establishments that have set up in the area.

From nationwide fine dining experiences such as The Ivy and The Ivy Asia to up Marche retailers like Marks and Spencer and House of Fraser, it is the coffee shop industry that seems to be ever-growing in and around town, hopefully for the better in both the independent and chain-based sectors.

With this ever-changing scene, numerous new coffee shops are expected to open before or at the start of this/next year: even bigger names such as Joe and the Juice, Ole and Steen and more are expected to join the competitive nature of Guildford’s hospitality industry. It is likely that these openings are as a result of the competition framed by independent and chain associated firms.