Mokoko Coffee
Mokoko Coffee & Bakery has four locations in the South West of England – One café and bakery in Bristol, two in Bath and one in Portishead. The latest opening was the Portishead site, which opened in September 2019.
PREMIER HOSPITALITY MAGAZINE spoke to designer Rebecca West from Simple Simon about their work on the site.
How did you get involved with the project?
“We have a great working relationship with Jake Harris, owner of Mokoko Coffee and have been working with him for a number of years now. Our involvement started with the Mokoko in Southgate, Bath and followed with Wapping Wharf, Bristol.”
In a nutshell, what did this project involve?
“Mokoko is a coffee shop and bakery brand with a difference. The open plan kitchen which forms the heart of the bakery is visible to all customers, creating an experience for the customer and allowing for an interior with lots of natural light, sense of smell and a real feel for the process behind the food they produce.
“The design follows on from this unique brand with a difference, making use of natural woods, pastel finishes and pops of colour through carefully sourced lighting and furniture. We tend to stay away from the usual industrial look and feel seen across a lot of coffee shops.”
What was the brief for this project?
“The brief was to develop the brand, incorporating the open kitchen space and large coffee stations. The design concept was to create a very open space, reflective across all of their sites. This allows staff and customers full engagement rather than a divide between the two. We used the previous designs to form the base of the scheme, adding to this sites design working with local Mural Artist Sophie Rae to add another dimension to the design.”
Can you guide us around the space?
“There are two entrances to the site from the surrounding Marina so careful consideration was made for what the customer is presented with from both entrances. The display islands greet customers with freshly baked produce and kilner jars of goodness. The working areas are zoned with the bakery at the heart of the workings, surrounded by coffee stations and food display. The furniture has also been carefully zoned to allow for a mix of dining and coffee height with a colourful mix of fixed seating, soft chunky armchairs and window seats allowing for great views of the marina.”
What are the standout design features?
“Mokoko interiors use a lot of bright colours paired with natural wood finishes and bespoke joinery to create a unique space. We collaborated with Mural Artist Sophie Rae to set the colour pallet for the murals adorned across many of the walls. Lighting and furniture were then carefully selected with this in mind. The bespoke joinery was designed to ensure it was showcasing the best of the products available and split up the space nicely.”
How important was this project for you to be involved with?
“It is really important for us to have ongoing relationships with our clients; working on a number of projects and helping brands evolve. We have really enjoyed helping to develop Mokoko to create such a unique space.”
