New study names Bristol the third best UK city for independent coffee shops

Bristol has ranked third in a recent survey showing the number of independent coffee shops in major UK cities.

Totaling 347, Bristol has the third most independently run coffee shops, compared to chain stores, as revealed in a study by Reviva Coffee.

The UK independent coffee shop market has grown four per cent in the last financial year, as many people are turning away from big name brands and supporting small.

Aside from these 347 independents, Bristol is home to 55 chain coffee stores – this means an impressive 86.3 per cent of all coffee shops in Bristol are independently owned.

UK independent cafes are expected to surpass 12,400 outlets within a year and reach 13,200 stores by 2029, so it is no surprise that they have gained popularity.

Reviva Coffee conducted research in July 2024. The data showed that Bristol placed just after Leeds and Edinburgh, named the first and second best city in the UK for independent coffee shops, with 584 and 560 independent coffee shops, respectively. In last place, the data showed Rochdale with only nine independent coffee shops.

Reviva’s research analysed key metrics such as TikTok and Instagram posts along with Google search volumes from 2023 and 2024. It also compared year-on-year trends to highlight the businesses coming out on top, and Mrs Potts Chocolate House proved its popularity with an impressive annual search volume of 97,200.

While their specialty is not in coffee, research conducted by Solopress revealed that Mrs Potts Chocolate House on Park Street has been named the “most viral” coffee shop in the UK.

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Mrs Potts Chocolate House serves a range of hot chocolates, chocolate cakes, cookies, and brownies. It is also known to host annual events celebrating fun and unusual hot chocolate creations, as well as exclusive pudding clubs after hours.

There is no doubt that Bristol has a thriving café culture and coffee scene as it is home to many excellent independent coffee shops. Students believe more than ever that it is best to support independents rather than chains, despite the recent influx of chains that have appeared on the streets, such as Gail’s, Blacksheep Coffee and even Greggs. Some core favourites from students are Fed 303, One B Coffee House, and MercyMercyMercy.