In a week when shoppers across Birmingham ventured out for the first time, a NEW Costa Coffee opened on the former BBC Pebble Mill social club site, creating 10 new jobs for the city.
The 1,800 sq ft premises on the Calthorpe Estate will initially operate as a drive-thru only, however has been built to cater for 64 of customers internally and 24 externally, when it opens its doors fully, later in the year.
Costa is the latest occupier to be confirmed at the former BBC Pebble Mill site, which is now offers world-class healthcare and medical facilities, and is part of Edgbaston Medical Quarter, the internationally-renowned healthcare and life sciences cluster. It will cater for staff and visitors to the award-winning Birmingham Dental Hospital & School of Dentistry, the 62-bedroom Bupa care home, as well as students from Vita student accommodation and the nearby University of Birmingham, in addition to residents and businesses from the local community.
The coffee shop will also sit alongside the new Circle Health private hospital, which opens later this year, and the 10,600 sq m (114,000 sq ft) state-of-the-art medical facility on plot 4, comprising a cancer treatment operator and oral theatre suite, which received planning permission in late 2019.
Construction of the Costa Coffee building was completed in March, however the fit-out was abruptly halted when Covid-19 hit. It officially opened on Thursday 18 June.
Paul Gillott, Developments Manager for Calthorpe Estates, said: “The arrival of Costa Coffee to the site brings us a step closer to completing Pebble Mill. The redevelopment of this landmark site is the result of more than a decade of strategic planning, with a vision to create an outstanding centre for medical, healthcare and life sciences.
“It has seen the transformation of the 27-acre location; Calthorpe Estates has invested in the infrastructure, a new substation, a Tranquillity Garden and partnered with the Environment Agency in £4million flood alleviation scheme around part of the site. Once finished Pebble Mill will deliver over 46,450 sq m (500,000 sq ft) of innovative medical and healthcare centres for the region, and encourage top specialists, further investment, visitors and jobs to Birmingham.
“As we welcome leading specialists and pioneering medical treatment providers, it’s imperative we cater for their teams and patients with desirable food and beverage offerings within Pebble Mill. That’s why we’re delighted to announce the opening of Costa Coffee in a prominent and accessible location within the site.”
Kate Thompson, Acquisitions Manager Central & East for Costa Coffee, added: “We’re thrilled to be back with our second drive-thru on the Calthorpe Estate in Edgbaston. Our first opened on Calthorpe Road in 2014 and was Birmingham’s first drive-thru Costa Coffee. Six years later, it’s great to see the brand is still as loved by the city as before.
“In recent weeks we have been responding to the COVID crisis by making a number of changes to how we serve our coffee. This has included introducing social distancing in our drive-thru lanes via an extendable shelf, going contactless and enhancing our hygiene procedures.
“We’re delighted to be part of this thriving community, and the safety of our team members and customers remains our number one priority. We are looking forward to serving residents, those visiting or working at Pebble Mill, as well as commuters in and out of the city, in the coming days, weeks and months.”
Costa Coffee is located on the Pershore Road, alongside Vita student accommodation, and is easily accessible from Pebble Mill via a footbridge over the River Rea. Furthermore, it is within easy walking distance of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University of Birmingham, and only a mile from the City Centre situated on a main arterial road.
For more information on Pebble Mill, visit the website here