Oxford coffee roastery NewGround has won the contract to supply The Store, the city's newest hotel.

Reef Group has been transforming the former Boswells department store in Broad Street into a 101-bedroom hotel.

Manager Simon Drake revealed yesterday the hotel is now expected to open in November - a slightly later date than first planned.

READ MORE: Opening date for new The Store hotel is delayed

This is to ensure that as much of the history of the building is preserved.

Mr Drake also said he was delighted to be working with a local business - Headington-based NewGround.

The company has just opened a cafe and bar in Ship Street.

Oxford Mail: Inside NewGround

NewGround director Joel Grates said: "We are delighted to get this contract to supply The Store.

"I understand Simon and his team received a number of offers from local and national coffee suppliers.

"I think we were chosen because there was alignment, particularly around quality and sustainability.

"We both have aspirations for growth - it was a natural good fit for both of us."

Mr Grates said having The Store as an 'anchor customer' has enabled NewGround to speed up the process of mass producing Nespresso-style pods, which can be used by hotel guests.

He added that the specialty coffee scene was growing in Oxford and said it was not 'overcrowded or saturated'.

Oxford Mail: Serving coffee

The cafe in Ship Street has been busy since it opened last month.

"It's going really well considering we have opened in the summer holidays," Mr Grates added.

"We have an alcohol licence and are selling natural wines so we are open late in the evening for four nights of the week.

"We are open until 11pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and until 10.30pm on Sunday.

The cafe has opened in part of the unit which was once Russell & Bromley shoe shop.

NewGround said earlier the cafe would be a "coffee and wine bar offering high-grade, ethically sourced coffee from small-scale farms around the world" and a "wide selection of natural wines".

Oxford Mail: Simon Drake, general manager of The Store

It added: "The new site will be located in a stunning listed building on an up-and-coming side street in the heart of Oxford city centre, building on the ever growing coffee scene in Oxford.

"The NewGround Roastery in Headington will continue to roast and serve coffee to loyal customers, supply coffee shops worldwide and offer employment opportunities to ex-offenders from local prisons."

NewGround has opened alongside Jericho Cheese Company and Crosstown doughnut shop in Ship Street.

It also features No 1 Ship Street restaurant and a noodle bar.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

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