It’s a year (10th October) since St Luke’s b.kinda coffee shop opened its doors in the heart of Plympton and it’s certainly made a strong impression on the local community in those first 12 months.
It’s not just about the excellent coffee and the tempting menu. It’s about the dedicated staff who have made it into an inviting place where every customer feels welcomed, looked after and treated as an important individual.
Creating that warm atmosphere has always been paramount for coffee shop manager Helen Shepherd and her team, who welcome a wide range of customers between 9am and 4pm, Monday to Saturday, as well as hosting special events out of hours.
“I absolutely love what I do. You put into it, and you get back 100 per cent. People see that you are going the extra mile, and they appreciate it. It is so rewarding,” says Helen, who has many years of hospitality experience.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED US
Prior to managing b.kinda, she was a front of house practical skills teacher at City College, which she loved, but felt a yearning to be back in a customer-facing role.
“I think working for a charity that is well-known, and the name of the coffee shop, drew me to b.kinda. It really means what it says. Visiting the hospice at Turnchapel underlined that for me.
“I get really close to the customers here; they are like family members. I adore the dogs and the babies too. Because we work for St Luke’s, all the staff have the same mindset. We really engage with one another and because of that our customers can feel relaxed too. It is like their second home, and some of them come in every day.”
The coffee shop’s window seat sofas are particularly sociable and popular, encouraging people to strike up conversations with new faces.
“Every day is different, meeting people from all sorts of backgrounds and seeing them interact with us and each other. People might come in alone, but they don’t feel alone.
“I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported us in the first year and we’re so glad we’ve made them feel at home.”
MUCH MORE THAN A COFFEE SHOP
Nicky Glattback, has also worked at b.kinda since it opened.
“It’s much more than just a coffee shop – it’s a neighbourhood hub. A lot of our customers say it’s like a safe space for them, so it’s achieving what we set out for it to be,” says Nicky, who has worked in hospitality for more than 25 years.
“We get a lot of older people coming in for coffee and it’s nice when we have time to listen to their stories – we might be their only point of contact for the whole day, so it’s important. Some have just lost a husband, wife or family member, and this is a place where they feel safe to come and talk.”
The coffee shop has offered Nicky a bridge between a job that’s familiar and the opportunity to do something good as part of the community.
“The fact b.kinda was connected to St Luke’s was a bonus for me. My Mum had dementia and she would have benefited from St Luke’s services if she had reached that point. I think given time I would like to volunteer helping people with dementia and this is a stepping stone that will help with that aim.
“So many of our customers have had some involvement with St Luke’s, through family members or friends. It’s a charity that touches so many people and is close to their hearts, so they want to support us.”
A LINK TO A REALLY GOOD, LOCAL CAUSE
Assistant manager Sammy White, is also full of praise for b.kinda’s achievements in its first 12 months.
“It’s hard to believe we’ve been open a whole year – it’s gone so fast. But at the same time it feels like I have always worked here – it’s been amazing,” says Sammy, the highly skilled barista behind the great-tasting coffee and perfect examples of latte art.
She might not recall a regular customer’s name but will always remember how they like their coffee and will make sure it’s the best it can be.
“I wouldn’t want to put my name to something that wasn’t good quality. Our most popular coffees are cappuccino and latte, but people also like our range of loose leaf teas,” adds Sammy, who trained and worked for five years at the Boston Tea Party.
She was employed in another coffee shop and looking for a change when she saw an advert last year for barista staff at b.kinda.
“Good coffee shop jobs don’t come up very often and I liked the charity aspect as well. I don’t think there are many people in Plymouth who don’t know about St Luke’s. I think it’s important to a lot of customers that we have that link to a really good, local cause.”
WHAT THE CUSTOMERS SAY
Coffee fan Barry Lewis loves the b.kinda coffee shop so much that he’s almost part of the furniture. “It’s really homely, the staff are so helpful, and you feel like you are one of the family. It’s a proper hub where you can meet people and you don’t feel like you are in the way,” he says.
“b.kinda is a place where people feel they can unburden their woes. I’ve watched a member of staff being so kind and supportive to a lady who burst into tears because her husband had just died. They sat her down and brought her a drink and let her talk. You won’t get that in a big chain coffee shop!
“I live round the corner and it’s like an extension of my lounge!” he laughs. “I can come and watch the world go by through the big picture windows. Sometimes I’ll pop in for a small coffee three times in one day – on my way somewhere, on the way back, then to meet up with someone.
“I’m a retired nurse and I’ve always been supportive of St Luke’s. I started coming in out of curiosity and I was made to feel very, very welcome. I have looked after a lot of people in the past who have needed St Luke’s care, so I like the feeling that you are giving back by coming here.”
Retired couple Carol and Tony live locally and come into b.kinda for coffee together at least once a week. Tony is also happy to drop in on his own while Carol has her hair done.
“This place is just so nice. The staff are so friendly and so helpful, which is important. It’s a nice atmosphere and a lovely place to come,” says Carol.
“We found it as soon as it opened a year ago and have been coming ever since. My husband says it’s the best cup of coffee in Plympton, and their food is nice too.
“Also, you feel like you are doing something for St Luke’s by supporting it,” she laughs.
Katie Goldsworthy visits b.kinda coffee shop regularly with her baby, Jacob, aged 15 months.
“This is one of the only places I’ve found where they help you if you have a baby. They will bring your coffee over instead of you having to try and juggle everything yourself. It makes life so much easier,” says Katie, who likes to come in for a decaf coffee after the school run with her two older children.
“I used to breastfeed Jacob here when he was a small baby. I could come in for a drink and not be made to feel uncomfortable. You get a nice welcome and there is always a clean highchair for the baby. People talk to you in here, which is great when you want to get out of the house for a while.
“It feels very much part of the community. It’s not the cheapest coffee but they don’t charge extra for decaf like some places do, and it’s so nice to receive that extra bit of help,” she says, packing up to take the baby home for his nap.
And, as if on cue, Helen appears from nowhere to open the coffee shop doors to help Katie manoeuvre the baby’s pushchair outside.
10 REASONS TO VISIT B.KINDA COFFEE SHOP
- There’s a friendly welcome for everyone in this inviting and safe space where you won’t feel alone, and conversations can flow if you want them to.
- The coffee, tea, cakes, scones, teacakes and other food and drink offerings are top quality, with vegan, gluten-free and caffeine-free alternatives.
- It’s a bright and clean environment with plenty of indoor seating, including super-comfy sofas, and when the sun’s shining there are outdoors tables too.
- There’s free parking for three hours in the adjacent car park.
- It’s wheelchair accessible, as well as child and dog friendly.
- There’s free wifi and plugs so you can charge phones or laptops.
- It’s just a 15-minute drive or 20-minute bus ride from the centre of Plymouth.
- It’s in the heart of Plympton’s shopping area. St Luke’s charity shop is just around the corner, plus several high street names and a range of independent businesses.
- It’s the perfect spot for getting together with friends to chat or enjoy crafts together, and there are quiet corners that are ideal for informal business meetings.
- All profits from b.kinda coffee shop support the compassionate end-of-life care delivered by St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth
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