Join us on our journey of bod – from where it all began to where we are today!
The bod café bars concept was first planned in 2017. It came to life in 2018 with our first bod café bar opening in Stafford. The aim was simple. Create a relaxing and comfortable environment where all the local community can come together, meet and socialise. All our bod outlets have a similar look and feel which we’ve created so every environment is as friendly and welcoming as possible.
Here at bod, we are proud of our “local” roots. We always try to use what is available on our doorstep and are very aware that we are here to serve the needs of our local communities. Bod is a place for the whole family and community – that includes our furry friends as all outlets are dog friendly.
Locally Sourced and Sustainable
Using local suppliers is important to us. That is from the beer we serve down to the crisps we sell. We try and source our produce as local as possible. All of bod café bars have their beer sourced by local brewer Titanic Brewery from Stoke-on-Trent. Fresh produce is from local supplier Freshview Foods who are based in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Ground coffee comes from Chartley Coffee based in Stowe-by-Chartley just outside of Stafford. Our crisps come from Just Crisps who are based just outside of Rugeley, again near Stafford.
Here at bod, we are extremely conscious about sustainability and reducing our impact on the environment as much as possible and have taken the following steps:
- We introduced biodegradable straws in 2018 which are disposed of correctly with our kitchen waste
- Fully recyclable, branded take-out cups including the lids – we chose recyclable over compostable ones as they are easier for our customers to dispose of correctly
- We offer bod branded reusable travel cups which are available in all of our bod outlets, these are from rCUP and made of recycled disposable cups – rcup.co.uk, what’s more, customers get their first fill in their reusable bod cup for FREE!
- 50p discount on hot drinks for customers who bring their own reusable travel cup
- We only sell cold drinks in glass bottles, cans or cartons – no plastic in sight
- Brown paper recycled bags for any takeaway items and wooden stirrers for takeaway hot drinks
We continue to look at how we do things and are always on the look-out for more environmentally friendly and sustainable alternatives.
stafford
The first site to become a bod was a former Co-op shop in the Weeping Cross area of Stafford. The Weeping Cross area had been without a watering hole or a place for locals to meet since 2009. It felt the time and place was right to create a new café bar. The residential area was crying out for somewhere for people to come together once again –it was too good an opportunity for us to miss! The name bod came from the road where we opened. Bod Stafford is on Bodmin Avenue. It just felt right that the name of the business gave a nod back to where it all began.
stoke station
After seeing bod Stafford, we were approached by Virgin Trains asking us to create a bod café bar at Stoke Station. With the building listed, we couldn’t change much internally. The main task was to create a bar which was built offsite tailormade to fit in the beautiful building. Our second bod opened in 2018.
trentham
Our third bod was a former NatWest Bank. With the building purchased, we set to work on the development of our third bod café bar – bod Trentham. Dating back to the mid 1800s, the building was designed by Sir Charles Barry and was created as Trentham Police Station.
newport
Our fourth bod is in Newport, Shropshire. The building is another former NatWest bank branch. You’ll see this as we’re retained many of the original features including the bank vault and old cash lift.
Where Next?
We are always looking for our next bod. We’ll know it when we see it. Watch this space – who knows, we could be bringing a bod to your area soon!