A café and event space is to open in one of Bristol city centre’s largest new office developments with a pledge to “champion seasonality and local food heroes”.
Run by national hospitality provider BaxterStorey, it is expected to open in mid-April on the ground floor, pictured, of the 200,000 sq ft EQ building on Victoria Street, which is nearing completion. 
EQ’s owner, London-based CEG – which is redeveloping two other buildings in the city centre and one at Aztec West, making it one of the area’s largest office landlords – said it aimed to raise the bar in terms of “quality, occupant wellbeing and sustainability”.
More than 10% of EQ is taken up with amenities for its occupiers, including a 50-seater auditorium, a fitness suite/gym and health club, and a range of break-out spaces – including the café, which will be open to the public – along with a rooftop business lounge and events space with communal terrace.
CEG said with some of the largest open-plan office floor space in Bristol and fully equipped internet-ready ‘let ready’ studios, EQ – which has so far attracted global banking giant HSBC, national accountancy group Evelyn, fast-growing fintech firm Paymentsense and global engineering and consultancy group Arup as occupiers – was set to become a thriving and collaborative community. 
The all-electric building, 80% of which was pre-let, will also be the first in the South West to commit to targeting net zero carbon in operation.
Its efficient façade will reduce the amount of energy needed while rooftop photovoltaic units will save 25 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.
Heated through low carbon heat-pump technology, rainwater recycling will save 2,000 litres of water per occupant each year.
CEG said the café, named Press in a nod to the former print operation on the site, will champion seasonality and local food heroes with barista-style coffee made from St Werburgh’s-based roasters Extract Coffee, ‘Aussie-style’ brunch bowls, freshly baked artisan breads and a breakfast menu using Clifton butcher Ruby & White’s sausages. Dishes will also be made with surplus veg from BaxterStorey supplier partner Waste Knot.
BaxterStorey managing director Louise Denton said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with CEG to bring an exciting hospitality venue to Bristol.
“They have a long-standing agenda of enhancing the workspace experience through sustainable initiatives and their strong community focus aligns with our own values.”
CEG investment manager Paul Richardson added: “It is fantastic to secure an independent hospitality provider with the kudos of BaxterStorey.
“With over 20 years’ experience in creating beautiful spaces and fuelling customers with their innovative and exciting menus, we cannot wait to see what the team unveils at EQ.
“We share the same ethos in delivering the highest quality with unrivalled sustainability credentials, and know that they, as well as our building, will be working hard to help the environment.”
CEG’s office portfolio in the Bristol area, which includes The Quorum on Bond Street, The Crescent Centre at Temple Back and 1000 Aztec West as well as EQ, totals around 400,000 sq ft.
Reading-headquartered BaxterStorey provides bespoke hospitality services through restaurants, café-bars, deli operations and executive dining rooms for a wide range of customers. It employs more than 8,500 people at 830-plus locations.
It is part of Westbury Street Holdings, which also owns Searcys, the prestigious catering firm that provides hospitality at iconic, exclusive venues for hire throughout the UK.
