Cotton signs up at Goods Yard with new café-bar opening this June
Independent coffee shop and sandwich specialists Cotton is the latest arrival at Goods Yard, the brand-new canalside neighbourhood in Stoke-on-Trent by social impact developers Capital&Centric.
Set to open Monday 23rd June, the new Cotton counter will be serving up fresh coffee, juices, pastries and cakes seven days a week, 8am-4pm. From July, they’ll dial things up with a new lunch menu featuring artisan sandwiches and rotating fresh salads, all crafted in house.
It marks the next chapter for Cotton, who’ve spent the past decade building a loyal following in Manchester with their relaxed atmosphere and dedication to quality. They’ve been slinging sarnies at a Capital&Centric’s Neptune Mill since 2024, and are now expanding into Stoke-on-Trent’s Goods Yard, drawn by the creative energy and growing community on site. They’re also setting up their very own bakery in Capital&Centric’s Farnworth Green in Bolton.
Tom Wilmot, Joint Managing Director at Capital&Centric, said:
“Goods Yard is flying – we’ve been blown away by the level of interest, with homes renting at pace and people moving in this month. The addition of Cotton will only build on the buzzing community taking shape here. They do simple things really well - great coffee, banging bakes, butties that’ll knock your sock off and a proper friendly vibe - so we know they’ll go down a storm.”
Chris Griffith, founder of Cotton, said:
“We’ve been part of the Capital&Centric community for a while now, and when we saw what was happening at Goods Yard we knew we had to be a part of it. There’s a real buzz already and we’re excited to bring our coffee and bakes to Stoke-on-Trent - it’s all about quality, community and a bit of fun.”
Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, Cabinet Member for Transport, Infrastructure and Regeneration at Stoke-on-Trent, said:
"This is fantastic news and shows that Goods Yard is really bearing fruit with immediate effect.
"This has always been all about make a real community space with the kind of hospitality venues people want and will use.
"This development has created exciting opportunities for budding entrepreneurs in the city. It’s the perfect example of the kind of thing we want to achieve going forwards."
This is the latest announcement for the project’s commercial space, with a number of unique units still available, including the Signal Box which has been painstakingly restored to its former glory. The Vaults, the striking underground space at Goods Yard, will soon be transformed into a new foodhall, with more operators to be announced in the coming months.
The Goods Yard neighbourhood includes 174 design-led rental homes alongside commercial space for independents, from bars and eateries, to shops and creative workspaces. Residents benefit from top-drawer on-site amenities like a gym, lounge, co-working spaces and a mini cinema, all just a stone’s throw from Stoke-on-Trent train station, which will soon be easier to get to when the direct walkway between the station and Goods Yard opens. Those interested in renting at Goods Yard can book a viewing at https://www.olloliving.co.uk/locations/goods-yard.
There’s still commercial space available to let, with opportunities for more independents to join the Goods Yard community. Interested businesses can get in touch via spaces@capitalandcentric.com.