M&S Coffee To Go, Kiwi & Pom

In response to the brief, Kiwi & Pom worked closely with M&S to achieve a light, modern and refined café space – using bold, black monolith form to stand out from the M&S Foodhall environment, alongside a materials palette of white-washed Ash, Walnut, glass and copper. A hand-applied textured wall treatment offers movement and a finish unique to each site, while giving a slightly industrial look and feel.

The design solution delivers a calm, open café layout with seating through perch bars and café tables, reminiscent of an artisanal coffee bar. Central to the design is a charcoal Ash counter unit that works as a servery, product display and bar seating – offering customers a place to watch their coffee being made. Lit shelving is positioned beyond the counter for a lifestyle display of product, coffee items and equipment, creating a coffee-centric atmosphere and an opportunity for cross-selling.

Kiwi & Pom designed a stand-alone perch bar for the space, delineating the area from the Foodhall and creating a threshold to the café. White-washed Ash timber was specified for the perch bar counter and café table tops, a continuation from the latest M&S Café interior scheme and an inverse to the charcoal Ash used in the main counter unit. Kiwi & Pom look to consider the details as well as the big picture of each project. An M&S branded copper disc is inset to the centre of each table top, and Walnut is introduced into the café seating specification - complementing the coffee tones of the wall graphics and copper details.

The light architectural design of the cafe requires a single existing wall, allowing the scheme to be easily applied to future sites. Coffee to Go is currently being trialled in additional locations.