Blend Coffee Lounge returns to Paisley

Blend Coffee Lounge is back at a new home in the Paisley Arts Centre, but the ethos remains the same

If you speak to Alan Baird of Blend Coffee Lounge, there are a few common threads that will emerge in any conversation about the business. One thing that’ll strike you immediately is that it seems like the positive experience of any customer is key to his philosophy.

Beyond that, the idea of bringing people “around the campfire of coffee” is absolutely pivotal to every decision that is made about the business. Now back in Paisley after a post-pandemic absence, their return to the Arts Centre is a homecoming for Alan and the team in more ways than one. 

“We obviously had a shop in Paisley for eight years and closed down as we reverted to a new business model after the pandemic. But, we always felt we had unfinished business in the town. It’s where I’m from and it’s a place that’s given me so much. So, even though I’ve lived away, it’s always been on my mind to give something back. 

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“It felt like there was a satisfaction to settle for mediocrity, as if we didn’t deserve anything better” 

We were always looking for opportunities and after working with the council in Dundee on our property up there, we reached out to see if there was anything we could do in Paisley. Initially, there was talk of us going into sports centres but we then had a conversation where they said ‘the Arts Centre has been closed for four years for refurbishment and we are looking to get an outside vendor in to oversee the café. Is this something you’d be interested in?’”

For Alan, he believes that being in a new venue so closely aligned with the cultural scene is a perfect fit for Blend. 

“Since Blend started, we’d always had this creative spirit about us and connected to that side of any town we’ve been in. There’s always been local artists, musicians and just people in that space who want to either present their work through book launches, selling paintings on the wall or anything in between. On our original site in the town, we were also working with Create Paisley since pretty much day one, as well as the arts collective. 

“So, it only made sense that we’d link up with Paisley Arts Centre in that way. It’s almost the ideal space, because it ties into our ethos for connecting people and creating a community. Our customer Stephen [Clancy], The Urban Historian, has incorporated a wee coffee in the café as part of his tours and we’ve created a space for him. It makes sense when you consider that the building dates back to 1738. It’s great to be part of one of the amazing listed buildings around.” 

Leah and Alan, photo ©Mill Magazine

Firmly of the belief that they’re “trying to evolve the space while remaining in line with OneRen’s vision”, Blend’s return to the town feels only right now that the café scene they arguably set in motion is now in full bloom. 

“I remember when we first opened, people coming and being like ‘whit? Why are you here in Paisley?’” Alan recalled. “Often, I remember saying ‘why not?’ It’s the biggest town in Scotland, 80,000 people live or work there.

“People in Paisley deserve the best. It’s almost as if it’s a lost memory that we were this town people travelled into because of the quality that was on offer here. It felt like there was a satisfaction to settle for mediocrity, as if we didn’t deserve anything better.

“We’ve seen so many great places in Paisley open up since and it almost feels like we gave permission to do that. Whether it’s Café 77, Food Forty Six, Roasters, Nomads’ or anywhere else. 

“When we came in, we wanted to change that. It was more about creating an intentional space. We wanted to be like the town’s living room, whether you were coming in after a walk with the dog, studying as a student or anything else. It wasn’t about it just being jam packed with tables and chairs to maximise profitability.

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“Coffee is just the conduit into people’s lives and we always ask ourselves, how are we generating goodness in the community? If we were going to do this, it wasn’t going to be average, we’re always aiming for excellence in everything and the same goes here.”

Among the many ways in which Blend strives to accomplish this is through using local produce and anyone who’s been into the Arts Centre since they opened their doors will know they have it in abundance. 

“That’s been absolutely huge since we launched the business”, he relayed. “We’ve always tried to support local bakers and other local businesses by outsourcing for the stuff we didn’t have the capacity for. Since moving into the Paisley Arts Centre, we got Two Towns Down beers in as it’s a licensed premises.

“Our coffee is from The Gatehouse Coffee Roasters too, with the jaffa mocha remaining one of our most popular drinks. We’ve got the Paisley Drinks Company in too, so this whole experience of promoting other businesses and collaborating is great for us. People are surprised at the quality that Paisley can produce” Alan concluded, “but when they try, they realise it can be amazing.”

Blend Coffee Lounge, Paisley Arts Centre, 15 New Street, Paisley, PA1 1EZ, Insta @blend_paisleyarts