Prior Shop: We visit the new café space serving edible cups and supporting a local charity

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Cabot Circus' Prior Shop has launched a new café area with a difference and an exhibition space.

Located on Philadelphia Street, the award-winning not-for-profit independent store hosts a collective of 150 artists' work featuring high-quality handmade goods.

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All artists must complete an application form and all the manufacturing details are checked before the work is stocked at the shop.

Around 30% of the work sold at the shop is made on-site, which is really unusual for Cabot Circus, commented Beck, owner of Prior Shop.

Prior Shop hosts a collective of 150 artists' work featuring high-quality handmade goods. Around 30% of the work sold at the shop is made on-site, which is really unusual for Cabot Circus, commented Beck, owner of Prior Shop.Prior Shop hosts a collective of 150 artists' work featuring high-quality handmade goods. Around 30% of the work sold at the shop is made on-site, which is really unusual for Cabot Circus, commented Beck, owner of Prior Shop.
Prior Shop hosts a collective of 150 artists' work featuring high-quality handmade goods. Around 30% of the work sold at the shop is made on-site, which is really unusual for Cabot Circus, commented Beck, owner of Prior Shop. | National World

Their exhibition space has recently been expanded and hosts a monthly exhibition.

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The space is hired out and no profit is charged to allow the space to be as accessible as possible, explained Beck.

The current exhibition, On the Wing, features the work of seven artists' mixed media pieces on the subject of birds.

The space is also used for workshops and, when they don't have an exhibition, it is used as a café space and an extension of the shop.

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Their exhibition space has recently been expanded and hosts a monthly exhibition. The current exhibition, On the Wing, features the work of seven artists' mixed media pieces on the subject of birds.Their exhibition space has recently been expanded and hosts a monthly exhibition. The current exhibition, On the Wing, features the work of seven artists' mixed media pieces on the subject of birds.
Their exhibition space has recently been expanded and hosts a monthly exhibition. The current exhibition, On the Wing, features the work of seven artists' mixed media pieces on the subject of birds. | National World

Following the increase in events and workshops hosted on the premises, Prior Shop has begun to offer coffee, cake and tea in their new coffee space to drive more footfall.

Beck told BristolWorld: "Because we have so many events and workshops, it just makes so much sense for us to offer a hospitality addition.

"But we want to try and do it a little bit differently. So we're zero waste and we want to start with trying to not use any single waste coffee cups at all, even if they're recycled or biodegradable. We're using edible coffee cups.

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Following the increase in events and workshops hosted on the premises, Prior Shop has begun to offer coffee, cake and tea in their new coffee space to drive more footfall. All drinks are served on edible cups.Following the increase in events and workshops hosted on the premises, Prior Shop has begun to offer coffee, cake and tea in their new coffee space to drive more footfall. All drinks are served on edible cups.
Following the increase in events and workshops hosted on the premises, Prior Shop has begun to offer coffee, cake and tea in their new coffee space to drive more footfall. All drinks are served on edible cups. | National World

"If you have a gluten intolerance or allergy, because these are like an ice cream cone wafer, you can use one of our mugs or bring your own for 50p off the coffee.

"The coffee that we buy is from Wogan, which is a local roaster really close to the shop.

"It's all direct trade, and 10% of every coffee goes to Team Canteen, which is a CIC in Bristol, who are working with the hospitality sector and local charities to reduce food insecurities in Bristol.

"So every cup of coffee makes a difference."

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