Further expansion planned for Bubbleology after opening of Notting Hill site
The company, founded by former JP Morgan investment banker Assad Khan, will open a site on Pembridge Road, Notting Hill in July where it will serve its range of fruit and milk based Taiwanese bubble teas.
The Notting Hill site, which will feature a Subterranean Tea Lounge and outdoor terrace, is part of major expansion plans for Khan's business.
The entrepreneur is hoping to roll the concept out to more UK cities next year and will also continue with expansion across Europe and the Middle East following its first European opening in Warsaw.
Cult following
Since launching in Soho last April followed by a concession at Knightsbridge department store Harvey Nichols, the business has developed a cult following for its teas, which come served in sealed cups with large straws to enable drinkers to suck up the key ingredient - chewy tapioca pearls or 'boba' as they are often referred to.
Although hugely popular in Taiwan where there are over 8,000 bubble tea cafes, bubble tea was relatively unheard of in the UK when Bubbleology set up last year. Nevertheless, Khan said he was aiming for the Bubbleology brand to become a household name and one that was synonymous with the drink.
He said: “We’ve had phenomenal response to the brand and the authentic taste of the product since we opened the first café in Soho, attracting thousands of loyal customers."
"Bubble tea is immensely popular in parts of the world but it is essentially a fragmented market. I have no doubt that Bubbleology will have a similar impact on the popularity and consumption of bubble tea as Starbucks did with coffee or Pinkberry did with Frozen Yoghurt.
“In the current climate, I’m thrilled that this British brand is defying the negative economic outlook, and is not only expanding in the UK but exporting itself abroad. Indeed, it is already attracting interest from Private Equity & Institutional Investors."
Bubbleology's stores are based on a 'mad scientist's lab' with diagrams that show how the drink is created. Staff are trained to serve the teas, which come served warm or cold, by tea masters from Taiwan.
Teas, priced at £3.35 for a standard cup and £3.75 for large cups, are made with a red, white or green tea base that is infused with flavourings such as coconut, chocolate, strawberry or mango and include the chewy tapioca pearls.
