Bristol’s vibrant food and drink scene is to get a boost from a Bath-based independent retailer when it opens in the Wapping Wharf development on Harbourside this summer.
Speciality coffee house and artisan bakery Mokoko’s new venture on Gaol Ferry Steps will be its first foray into Bristol.
Opening in early June, it will include an open-plan bakery where visitors will be treated to the spectacle of seeing fresh bread and home-made cakes baked in front of them, as well as a speciality quality coffee offering.
The outlet will have seating outside on the terrace for visitors keen to take advantage of the summer sunshine, as well as indoor seating.
Mokoko has agreed to take two units totalling 1,600 sq ft on a 10-year lease on Gaol Ferry Steps, a new route connecting south Bristol to the city centre that opened to the public last week.
The latest section of developer Umberslade’s Wapping Wharf scheme to open, it is set to be lined with independent retailers, including food and drink outlets.
Mokoko founder and managing director Jake Harris has been working in the coffee and hospitality industry for 20 years.
He said: “We are thrilled to be joining the new Wapping Wharf community. When we heard about this new quarter at the very heart of the cultural and leisure hub of the city, and with a strong focus on independent food and drink, we knew it would be the perfect fit for us.
“Mokoko is proud to be an independent retailer with an ethos focused on providing high-quality coffee and baked goods, as well as excellent service.”
Its Wapping Wharf store team also includes Dale Ingram, head pastry chef and baker with more than 30 years’ experience working with sourdoughs and levens, and Jordon Keen, a highly skilled barista and former UK Barista Championship competitor.
Mokoko, which already has two coffee houses in Bath, has been trading for five years and will initially create around 15 jobs when it opens in Bristol following investment in a major fit-out of the new units.
More than 110 apartments are now occupied at Wapping Wharf which, when finished, will include more than 600 apartments.
Umberslade director Stuart Hatton said: “Mokoko is going to be a brilliant addition to the Wapping Wharf quarter and fits in perfectly with our vision to create an exciting, new neighbourhood offering a real community vibe and brimming with independent retailers.
“We have had a huge amount of interest from retailers keen to become a part of Wapping Wharf and we are really looking forward to seeing the first ones open this summer.”
As well as the independent retail offering along Gaol Ferry Steps, Wapping Wharf will be home to Cargo, Bristol’s first retail hub made of converted shipping containers. There are also plans for Cargo 2, a second retail hub, also with an independent food and drink focus, due to popular demand.
Gaol Ferry Steps is an important part of this new neighbourhood, providing access from Gaol Ferry Bridge straight down to the waterfront and Museum Square.
Pictured, from left: Dale Ingram and Jordon Keen from Mokoko; Umberslade director Stuart Hatton; Mokoko director Jake Harris; and Louis Arron of Umberslade
