by Emily Woodcock
Chester is a charming, historical city with its busy city centre playing host to various different businesses. Chained cafes and restaurants are in abundance but it’s the smaller, independently owned businesses that give the city its heart. In recent years, it has become harder and harder for these smaller businesses to compete against giant franchises such as Starbucks, which has 2 cafes located in the city centre, and Café Nero, which has a whopping 3 cafes located within walking distance of one another.
Many small business owners struggle to keep up with these big names due to their accessibility and established brand names which make it easier for customers to know what to expect when ordering. The ability for these less known cafes to survive, let alone thrive, is getting harder and harder as chains start to spread and overshadow them.
Tucked away in Rufus Court, just outside of the city centre is High Coffee Bar, a small but cosy café that perfectly encompasses the calm vibe of the city. They opened with the goal of serving quality coffee which they continue to do now after opening at the end of 2023. Speaking to Vladyslav Kostash, the café’s owner, gave some perspective on the importance of community in spreading the word of the coffee shop due to it being out of the way from the street. “We’re in a hidden courtyard so it’s mostly about awareness,” he said about the café which is marketed around Chester by stickers that can be seen in various locations around the city centre. It was clear that Kostash understood what was best for the café despite the ever changing city, “it’s always about community… being in front of your customers and realising what they really want to have.” Small cafes like High Coffee Bar offer a unique experience for those visiting with a much more friendly atmosphere than what can be expected in chains.
It isn’t just the new businesses that are feeling the effects of the take over that is happening through chained coffee shops. Café Gate, located on Northgate Street, has been around for 20 years with the owner, Keith McAllister, having been in the city for all that time, experiencing all the highs and lows that Chester has offered. “There’s been loads of changes,” he said, “there’s more al fresco, more competition but not necessarily for the worst.” For McAllister, the loyal customer base that the café has accumulated over the two decades that it has been open make it easier to last in the city with all the chains that keep popping up. The café stands just outside of the famous Chester rows, inviting passers-by in with outdoor seating and friendly staff. The welcoming vibe of the café has helped it stay in the city for so long and it doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon despite the competition.
These two cafes are just some examples of the small businesses that Chester has to offer, the backbone of the city are these businesses and it’s important that they are supported by residents and visitors despite the endless chain coffee shop options that are filling the city. Next time you find yourself in the city with a craving for coffee, be sure to support a local business such as High Coffee Bar or Café Gate.
To visit High Coffee Bar: 9 Rufus Court Chester, Chester, CH1 2JW
To visit Café Gate: 60 Northgate St, Chester, CH1 2HT
For more background, check out my podcast: https://soundcloud.com/emily-169881990?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
