1.Explain your business in thirty seconds or less.
The Clubhouse Coffee & Cycles does exactly what is says on the tin! It’s great coffee and light bites using high quality, locally sourced products and ingredients, coupled with great bikes produced by Factor. Our aim is to create an inclusive atmosphere, where everyone can enjoy themselves. We pride ourselves on delivering the sort of quality that can satisfy the hardcore coffee or bike enthusiast but be inclusive enough that anyone can come in and feel at home.
2. Where are you based and why is it a good location for your business?
We are proud to be located in Skipton, North Yorkshire. It's a fantastic town on the edge of the Dales, it's cycling mad with an up and coming coffee scene. People travel from all over the world to come to Skipton and cyclists often use Skipton as a way point when visiting the Dales so its perfect for us.
3. How did you come up with the idea?
I have a real passion for coffee and cycling and luckily a lot of cyclists share my passion for coffee. Yorkshire is a hotbed of cycling and speciality coffee is growing in popularity. My wife and I spent February to May this year traveling through Australia, New Zealand and Asia, we saw so many cool coffee houses and different methods that I made the decision to go for it. We have set up The Clubhouse in Yorkshire (The heart of cycling in the UK) but we have brought back all the influences from around the world to bring it to life.
4. What stage was your business at when you applied for the Start Up Loan?
We had an idea, the makings of a business plan and financial assumptions and an agreement in principle on a lease in Skipton subject to planning permission and agreeing the loan. So it would be safe to say we were in the early stages!
5. How have you used it to grow your business?
The loan has helped us get off the ground. Renovate and convert the property, purchase stock and then market the proposition. Without the loan this would have been an idea only, the loan has enabled us to execute the idea which is the most crucial part.
6. Who is your regional delivery partner and how did they help you get a Start Up Loan from Virgin StartUp
Phil from Airedale Enterprise Services, the whole team were brilliant and Phil in particular. He was great as we built the financials asking the questions that I hadn’t thought of and meant I had a far more holistic plan to execute when the time came. His wealth of experience in the business world also helped me.
7. Biggest achievement so far?
It has to be getting open, there are so many challenges and hurdles to face to get a business to the point of serving its first customer that I think everyone who can get a business open should class that as a great achievement.
8. What’s next for your business?
One thing we recognised during our time travelling was the different social hubs that are available. We want to create a chilled out evening culture, with “bring your own records” nights, Coffee, Wine & Gin tasting, talks, readings and other events bringing a further dimension to The Clubhouse.
The information contained in this website is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice on any matter. Use of this website is at users own risk and is not intended to create a lawyer-client relationship between Virgin StartUp and any user. Information displayed on this website is provided “as is” and Virgin StartUp does not provide any express or implied warranty or representation concerning the information, including but not limited to the accuracy or appropriateness of the information. Virgin StartUp recommend that users seek their own legal advice before taking (or refraining from) taking any action and do not accept any liability in respect of any actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the information displayed on this website to the fullest extent permitted by law.