SOCIETY COFFEE SHOP AND BAR

8 Stephenson Place,

Chesterfield.

S40 1XL.

FACEBOOK - @societycoffeechesterfield

INSTAGRAM - @societycoffeechesterfield

TL;DR

Hospitable owner operating a modest two-floor space filled with a few old-school interior details, a chill vibe, and is usually occupied by a few eclectic regulars; who enjoy the good coffee, locally sourced beers, and the handful of sweet baked treats.

Their once-secret savoury option – the grilled cheese – with a side of locally sourced and delicious Bread & Butter pickles (by Crooked Pickle Co.), is now available throughout the week.

More savoury lunch options (like the occasional American inspired Saturday smash burger pop-up) to be introduced in the future!

THE LONG

As I stub my trainer on the pavement and snap out of autopilot mode, I reorientate myself to see that I'm trundling past RBS. I know I’m a stone's throw away, as I can spot the dark wooden sign poking out from the long stretch of buildings, providing a visual marker for my destination.

Society Coffee Shop and Bar is one of the new establishments (est. October 2017) to find a home on Stephenson Place, here in Chesterfield town centre; one that has filled a space previously occupied by Central Perk, the Java Coffee Internet Café, and Mabel Hartley (a millinery and gown and fur specialist) back in the 1960s, so this little spot has plenty of history behind it.

As I arrive in front of Society, what catches my eye is the glint of light that bounces off the gold emblem logo and capitalised typeface that adorns both the sign and large front window. It’s a classic, unfussy style that is framed by the glossy, understated dark blue-grey paintwork; a simple and unpretentious combination that provides a hint of what you can expect inside.

Upon entry, I’m greeted by an olive green and white paint scheme, double-height ceilings, and a long communal bench on the left side that helps to guide me towards the heart of the operation; a set of shiny silver beer pumps (with a constantly changing supply of local and national ales), an Exobar coffee machine, and a typical warm Northern welcome: “Alright Perry!”

Liam may look like a youthful lumberjack, but I can assure you he isn’t secretly (in the dead of night) looking to thin the local lumber population. He is instead here to contribute to the independent food and drink community in Chesterfield by providing people with his unique take on a coffee shop, and evening bar at the weekend.

On the approach to the countertops where you are greeted by Liam and place your order, the walls to the left and right curve away and open up; the right revealing a stairway (insert generic Led Zeppelin reference…) to additional seating and the bathroom, and the left revealing a little kitchen, a curated selection sweet treats, and a beautifully crafted wooden tap handle ready to serve the house beer.

The delectable selection of baked goods include a limited supply of doughnuts from Doughnotts, a few classic home-baked cakes from Liam’s mother, a couple of traybake goodies from Rate Good Brownie Boxes, as well as Tunnock’s caramel wafers and tea cakes in a nostalgia-filled tuck shop. Nuff said!

One more thing to note is the display of beers gracing the back wall too, where the individual beers are proudly presented in their own bicycle bottle cage! I love this design feature because of its unique way of solving the problem of fitting a flush shelf onto a slightly uneven wall, as well as creating an interesting grid beer display that provides each of the drinks with a little more negative space; allowing people to appreciate the individuality of each of the producers Liam buys from.

There’s no hero’s journey here, just an ingenious lightbulb moment that was inspired by a caffeine-deprived cyclist who made a pitstop! I’m sure Liam would be more than happy to fill you in with the details!

If you watch food shows like the one by the late, great Anthony Bourdain, you may remember the episode where he visits one of those “little” izakaya places down Memory Lane in Shinjuku, Tokyo. For me, the ambiance at Society feels like a British version of what you see in those quaint little Japanese places.

I love places like Omotesando Koffee for their minimalist aesthetic and philosophy, but I also like the spirit and character of small independent places like Society, because it has a patina that modern places lack, and when I say patina, I mean the individuality of every owner’s unique life experiences and how that informs the physical manifestation of the design choices, and the way they deliver their version of a F&B business.

It’s these single, usually small businesses operated by a handful of people that are what defines the character from one establishment to the next, and also what distinguishes the personality of every town and city from one another.

Society feels like it’s an extension of Liam; it feels unique…

It feels human.