Customer Spotlight: Royal Russel School

August 5th, 2024 | Other

Our customer, Royal Russell School, is an independent day and boarding school for girls and boys aged 3 to 18. At the core of Royal Russel School’s values is the ethos of serving others, encapsulated in their motto, “Not for oneself, but for all.”   

Set on a beautiful 110-acre campus on the outskirts of Croydon, this school provides staff and students with the perfect balance of indoor and outdoor learning spaces to let little minds flourish. From driving through the gates to arriving at reception and walking around campus, it certainly had a wow factor not to mention the dining hall, which was like something out of Harry Potter!    

Design excellence at Drapers’ Café:   

Drapers’ Cafe, nestled within their historic South-East London campus offers a space where students and teachers alike can recharge, study and connect with peers. Royal Russell School was looking for a coffee partner to not only supply delicious coffee, tea and snacks to fuel students and staff through the day but also marketing support to rebrand their cafe space.   

Introducing, Smokin’ Bean by Matthew Algie!  

With an industrial chic vibe, Smokin’ Bean was the perfect brand to introduce to the school – the exposed pipework on the ceiling, rustic wood decor with accents of industrial metal, creating an edgy, modern atmosphere. Working alongside design partners, our teams transformed the café creating a space that promoted both relaxation and productivity.    

We installed a WMF 5000S+, automatic bean-to-cup machine, making it an easy space to operate, especially during the peak times throughout the day when coffee is in high demand. Plus, they can keep up with seasonal drink trends using a core selection of DaVinci syrups, offering drinks like a fluffy mallow chocolate milkshake and a salted caramel iced latte.    

Coffee breaks with Carimali   

It’s not just students who benefit from delicious coffee! With seven user-friendly Carimali bean-to-cup machines in staff rooms across campus, teachers can easily access unlimited coffee to fuel their day—something well deserved for those with such an important role. 

A campus with a latte of potential 

With lots of green spaces and woodland, the school are committed to protecting this and the planet. Ed Broderick, Royal Russel’s catering and hospitality manager, is a champion of sustainability, ensuring that every aspect of the café’s operation aligns with eco-conscious principles. From working with their ground maintenance team to ensure coffee waste serves a purpose beyond the cup – using used coffee grounds to enrich the school’s gardens as a natural fertiliser to sourcing locally to minimise carbon footprint and using biodegradable takeaway containers and plant starch cups, the school’s commitment to sustainability is evident. 

These are traits Matthew Algie holds dearly, as we consider the environmental impact in everything we do! Being the first roastery in the UK to ever supply triple certified coffee beans (Fairtrade, Organic and Rainforest Alliance) and we also consider suppliers for other products such as tea, cocoa and sugar, we always make sure to partner with organisations with strong sustainability credentials and values similar to our own. 

Creating a safe space for all

Royal Russell prioritises the well-being and safety of every student by maintaining an allergy-free campus environment. Thankfully, this is not an issue when partnering with us! Ed comments, “We’re always looking for new tasty treats for our students to try, and with Matthew Algie’s Espresso Warehouse catalogue always evolving, we have lots of choices.” We pride ourselves on ensuring that every group is catered for, no matter what your allergy is!

Our coffee partnership

As collaborators in progress, Matthew Algie and Royal Russel School share a vision for a future where sustainability and innovation merge seamlessly.  

“We have enjoyed working with Matthew Algie over the years. From initial installation and café designs to ongoing support, Jon, Zak and the team are always happy to help. We’re looking forward to working with them, and potentially collaborating on some new projects in the future!”  

Ed Broderick expresses the school’s excitement for continued collaboration, highlighting Matthew Algie’s invaluable support, especially in branding initiatives. With exciting projects ahead—including expanding seasonal drink offerings and introducing a catering truck for campus events—Royal Russel School is ready to redefine the boundaries of its catering services, and Matthew Algie is eager to join them on this journey. 

Thanks for reading our blog and make sure to find out more about the Drapers’ Cafe here. If you’re interested in contacting the team about having your own Smokin’ Bean cafe, or if you’d like to try some of our amazing coffee beans or machines, make sure to contact the team.