The new owners of Huddersfield’s iconic Merrie England coffee shop chain have promised “evolution not revolution” and said: “We are only custodians.”

The consortium of Ian and Anne Coumont, Gary Conway and Adam Sayers took over the 50-year-old chain from the founding Hanselman family in July.

The new owners have been quick to insist the chain, much loved for its olde worlde charm, won’t see massive changes. And the Hanselman family were at pains to ensure they only sold to new owners who would protect the Merrie England legacy.

Merrie England has three coffee shops in Huddersfield town centre, a drive-thru in Oakes and shops in Brighouse and Halifax.

Ian said: “Merrie England is a great brand and we just want to evolve it. Some things will change but there will only be change in consultation with our customers.”

The new owners are from Leeds and Bradford and have extensive experience in the hospitality industry. Gary and Adam are cousins and husband and wife Ian and Anne are family friends.

 

From L-R: Ian Coumont, Anne Coumont, advisor Poonam Kaur (fds), Gina Hanselman, Gary Conway and Adam Sayers

 

Ian said: “We know how iconic Merrie England is to Huddersfield and we don’t want to change it. There will be no renaming of the company and it will always be Merrie England.

“We have bought the business to develop it, not to lose any character or heritage. It’s part of the legacy of Huddersfield and we are just custodians.”

Ian said while no major changes were planned, there would be “tweaks and adjustments” to bring the business up to date.

The changes planned so far include:

  • Sausage rolls being sold from the drive-thru in New Hey Road for the first time from Saturday August 3;
  • Coca-Cola and Yorkshire Tea brands introduced to coffee shops;
  • Table service will be trialled at the Kirkgate branch in Huddersfield from August 13;
  • Menus on the table for the first time;
  • More charging points for laptops, phones and other devices;
  • Greater freedom for the bakery to create new products, while the traditional staples remain;
  • The introduction of ‘seasonal specials.’

The Merrie England team said if the table service trial proved successful it would be rolled out across the chain and menus on tables was about “ending the need to queue.”

“At the moment everybody has to queue,” said Ian. “But we want people to be able to walk into Merrie England and sit down with no rush and no pressure.”

Ian said the business would listen to its customers and staff and had already acted upon online feedback.

The way bacon was cooked has been changed to ensure consistency between the shops – and an automated system for processing orders at the drive-thru had been introduced to improve speed.

“We will listen to our customers,” said Ian. “We cannot change everything for everybody but we want to improve where we need to.”

The new £2.85 sausage roll, described as a “premium product”, is expected to be popular with drive-thru customers. It’s baked in-house but the team aren’t revealing anything more.

“It’s a trial and people will have to come and try them!” said Ian.

 

 

The chain also plans to introduce discounts for Huddersfield Town season card holders, Kirklees College employees and blue light workers. A tie-up with Huddersfield Town is to be announced shortly.

Merrie England want to remain at the heart of the community and the team wants to make the downstairs seating area at the Kirkgate branch in Huddersfield available free of charge to any community group or organisation that wants to meet there.

The room seats 40 people and there are a few steps down into it.

“It’s not being utilised and we would like to offer it to the community,” said Ian. “All we ask is they order some teas or coffees while they’re here.”

Merrie England, which has 84 staff, is famous for its ‘signature dishes’ – hot and cold roast beef sandwiches and apple pie and cream. It was founded in 1966 and the drive-thru opened in 1980.

To enquire about the room at Kirkgate contact Ian on ian@merrie-england.com

 

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