The Gentlemen Baristas acquired by Qima Cafe owner
Origins 1450 says the move positions it ‘at the forefront of the UK coffee industry’, with plans to create ‘the nation's first vertically integrated specialty coffee roastery’.
It comes after The Gentlemen Baristas was forced to call in administrators back in January.
In March, documents filed to Companies House revealed that the brand, which was founded by Henry Ayers and Ed Parkes in 2014, had been bought out of administration for £785,000.
The deal included the group’s two remaining coffee houses in Piccadilly and London Bridge, as well as its roastery in Maryland Stratford.
"This marks an exciting new chapter in the evolution of The Gentlemen Baristas,” says Parkes of the acquisition.
“We couldn’t have found a better partner in coffee than Origins 1450 as our values and outlook are truly aligned.”
Origins 1450 was established in 2022 by Faris Sheibani, who also founded Qima in 2016.
With a presence in 11 countries, the company oversees coffee nurseries, sourcing, processing, trading and retail, and positions itself as ‘a disruptive player’ in the global specialty coffee market.
“We are excited to welcome The Gentlemen Baristas into the Origins 1450 family,” says Basel Almadhoun, chief of staff at Origins 1450.
“This acquisition is a significant step forward in our mission to lead the specialty coffee sector in the UK.
“By integrating Gentlemen Baristas into our operations, we are set to create the UK's first vertically integrated specialty coffee roaster, offering a truly seed-to-cup experience.”
After opening its first site on Union Street in Borough, The Gentlemen Baristas expanded across the capital and by the summer of 2022 had grown its estate to 11, which included a mix of bricks and mortar locations and collaborative outlets in office buildings.
However, the group has subsequently downsized and at the start of the year operated a total of four site.
This was later reduced to just two trading sites following the appointment of administrators.
