Left Handed Giant launches commune café at Bristol’s BLOK business hub

Bristol-based independent brewer Left Handed Giant (LHG) has expanded its offerings with the launch of Commune Café, part of the recently completed £12 million refurbishment of the BLOK business hub.

Commune Café, which opened last month, is located within the 70,000 sq ft BLOK site, owned by Boultbee Brooks. The business hub also features 11,000 sq ft of welfare and amenity space, including a communal lounge, meeting rooms, a courtyard garden, roof terrace, and a private gym. Currently, the site is 70% occupied, hosting tenants such as Coreus Group, RWK Goodman, and Irwin Mitchell Solicitors.

Left Handed Giant, established in 2015, operates seven other venues across Bristol, including the popular Finzels Reach Brewpub overlooking the city’s floating harbour and its main brewery Taproom in St Philips. The Commune Café complements LHG’s existing coffee outlets, including New Cut Coffee on the Harbourside and Hotplate Diner in Stokes Croft.

Managing director Bruce Gray described the new venture as a significant milestone for the brewery. He stated:

“This was a wonderful opportunity for us to expand our presence in the city and continue to serve top-quality food and drink to the people of Bristol.

“The BLOK site has been extensively refurbished to an extremely high standard, and to be able to open up the Commune Café as part of this project is truly exciting for everyone involved.

“We now operate two main brewing sites in the city, producing around 7,000 hectolitres of beer annually, which is sold through independent pubs, bars, and bottle shops, with the majority straight to tap through our Brewpub, the St Philips Taproom, and from where it all began for us at the Small Bar.”

Boultbee Brooks acquired the BLOK property in 2021, transforming the tired 1980s building into a modern hub for businesses and amenities. Managing director James Whitcher expressed enthusiasm about the café’s opening, stating:

“The opening of Commune Café completes the extensive £12m refurbishment of the building, and we are absolutely delighted to welcome Left Handed Giant into the BLOK family. We look forward to working closely with them as we continue to deliver quality office solutions – and coffee – for the people of Bristol.”

Commune Café is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can enjoy views of the iconic St Philip and St Jacob Church and relax in the courtyard garden. 

Picture credit: Left Handed Giant