Piccoloco opens latest coffee shop venture at Keele in Town

A popular local business has expanded with the opening of its latest coffee shop venture inside Keele University’s flagship town centre building in Newcastle-under-Lyme. 

Piccoloco, a coffee shop, bar and kitchen on Hassell Street, in Newcastle-under-Lyme, has recently taken over the cafe space inside Keele in Town, the University’s town centre base on Ironmarket. 

The new branch, which is open to the general public, will exist alongside Piccoloco’s current business, offering expertly prepared food, and hot and cold drinks to any guests who make use of the space. The new cafe at Keele in Town will be open to everyone from Monday to Friday from 8am-6pm, and Saturday 10am – 4pm, with a 10% discount available for Keele students with a valid student ID. 

Keele in Town was established to provide a space for Keele students and staff to get together, to study, and to connect with the community including local businesses and non-profit organisations, and the cafe service provided by the Piccoloco team will help to complete the vision for the building’s offering in the town centre. 

Jonathan Hill from Piccoloco, said: “We started out with a coffee van in the market back in February 2020, and after the Covid lockdowns we returned and increased our business. Following that we opened our shop in Hassall Street a couple of years ago, and now here we are two years on, moving into a second venue here at Keele in Town, which is great news and very exciting. 

“It’s quite humbling from where we started, but the good, loyal support from the public that used to visit me in the van, and the confidence we’ve gained from that has enabled us to get to this position, and it’s presented a great opportunity for us, and hopefully for Keele as well.” 

The Piccoloco team already have a history of engaging with the University, having been one of the first businesses to take part in the FLOURISH programme, which connects undergraduate and postgraduate students with dozens of small businesses to help them grow and innovate. 

Claire Nicoll, Keele in Town Venue and Facilities Manager, added: “I’m very excited to welcome Piccoloco to Keele in Town. Not only do they have a strong brand and following in Newcastle, and of course, great coffee, which will bring lots more people into the town and into the Keele in Town venue, but they’ve got a great history of working with Keele after taking part in our FLOURISH programme, which makes them a natural fit for the new cafe partner at Keele in Town. I enjoy working with Ben and Jon and look forward to watching the business grow more.”