The man behind Abbey Ales is expanding his portfolio and venturing into coffee.
Managing director of the Bath-based brewery, Alan Morgan, will next week launch his first cafe in Kingsmead Square.
Under the new name The Bath Coffee Company, Mr Morgan has said he wants to be part of the growing coffee scene in the city as well as the improvements taking place in the Kingsmead area.
Abbey Ales owns four pubs in Bath including The Trinity on James Street West.
"I've got a bit more time on my hands because my son Simon is running the brewery. We have a pub in Kingsmead Square and a lot of people who work for us are trained baristas.
"I thought to myself they're people who are very good at their jobs and people are just fanatical about coffee. I can't tell the difference personally, beer that's a different matter but coffee no.
"Kingsmead Square is the most up and coming part of the town at the moment. They are talking about making the square more al fresco and pedestrianised. The shop came up at the right time and it seemed a good opportunity."
In January the Bath Business Improvement District got permission to create an al fresco dining and performing arts space in Kingsmead Square, which will aim to make the square an attraction in its own right rather than just a cut through.
The Bath Coffee Company, which will be managed by Adam Kilbane, will join a host of successful cafes in Kingsmead Square such as The Society Cafe, Boston Tea Party, Jazz Cafe, Java Coffee and more recently Starbucks.
But Mr Morgan said he believes there is room for one more.
"The four pubs we have were all supposed to close and we took them on despite there being so many other pubs in the town. We are now one of the most successful pub groups in Bath. Competition is a good thing especially now they are transforming Kingsmead Square. We aren't just another coffee shop we are going for quality."
The new cafe is set to open next Friday.
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