Sisters behind popular cafe-on-wheels open first permanent coffee shop in south Bristol

A new family-friendly coffee shop has opened in a former nail and beauty salon in Brislington.

Kin is the first bricks and mortar site for sisters Jodie and Kylie Lawrence, who also run the Stuffed cafe-on-wheels from a converted Citroen van parked in Victoria Park.

The new cafe on Sandy Park Road opened this morning and curious locals had already formed a queue when the doors opened. Kin serves a range of cakes, pastries and sandwiches, as well as a selection of hot and cold drinks including locally roasted coffee.

The sisters say opening their first proper cafe has been ‘an emotional experience’ and the support from local businesses around Sandy Park Road has been ‘amazing’.

Kylie, who lives in Stockwood, said: “During the building work getting Kin ready, lots of locals have been popping their heads around the door to see what we’re doing and there has been so much support.

“A lot of people living around here say they have been waiting for a small coffee shop like this and we plan to apply for a licence so we can also open in the evenings as soon as we can.

“This is a great area and we’ve already had support from the greengrocers across the road and the delicatessen two doors down, it feels like a great community.”

The sisters have built a large following from their Stuffed van in Victoria Park and now they hope to replicate that in Brislington. Kylie said: “We hope our customers from the van follow us here, and we know a lot live between here and Victoria Park in places like Totterdown so I’m sure we’ll see some familiar faces.

“We’ve made sure Kin is really family-friendly with space for buggies, a large washroom with baby changing facilities, sofas and toys for the kids. Now that we’re open, we will start work on the area outside the front and put in seating and an awning.

“It has been hard work but we’re so pleased to now be open and the feedback already has been great from the locals.”