Posted by
Emma White
Article taken and written by Surrey Live
With an atmosphere like this, it's hard not to have a smile on your face
Guildford has a lot of coffee shops, but one of the newest is Art and Grind - which I found to also be one of Guildford’s most unique and welcoming. And with a very unique concept tat keeps people coming back.
Opening up in March, the owner Trish set out with the specific aim to provide the best locally sourced coffee and to provide local artists and creatives with a space that they can display their art. I visited Art and Grind on Friday August 12th, and to say it was a lovely experience would be an understatement.
“Our purpose is to put more art out into the world, whether its customers or local artists, who never thought of selling their art, we provide an establishment which allows them to display and sell their art in our shop.” Trish, 55, the owner of Art and Grind, told SurreyLive.
Trish is an American-born lady with a warm smile and a kind heart. She moved to Surrey around six years ago and decided to put her passion for art to good use, opening Art and Grind in March of 2024.
The lovely staff at Art and Grind suggested that I indulge in a slice of banana cake, a white chocolate and hazelnut cookie and a flat white coffee. And who am I to disagree. I must say, the food and coffee available, which is all locally sourced, was delicious.
As I entered, I was greeted with a vast array of different forms of art created by talented local artists, from oil paintings to acrylics, realism to abstract, all forms of art are encouraged and sold.
In many ways Art and Grind is an art gallery just as much as it is a coffee shop. And it is not only local artists who are encouraged to create and display their art, every table has free access to oil paints, colouring pens and colouring cards, which have been commissioned by local artists. This makes Art and Grind the perfect place to bring family and friends alike to sit and get creative, while you spoil yourself in coffee and bites to eat.
“We hear everyday about what a great concept it is and how much it is needed. I often hear that people feel they can be themselves here, it's a very safe space for all people.” Trish added.
“We hear everyday about what a great concept it is and how much it is needed. I often hear that people feel they can be themselves here, it's a very safe space for all people.” Trish added.
And I would say this is very much true, the atmosphere which Trish and her staff create is one of the most warm and welcoming I have experienced in Guildford. With an atmosphere like this, it's hard not to have a smile on your face when you visit. As I sat there eating my banana cake, I could see children painting, art fanatics discussing the beautiful art on display and staff chatting away with customers. A lovely environment to have a coffee and a snack.
In the next week, Art and Grind is set to open up the upstairs to visitors as an art gallery and also as an office space for corporate events, these events will include art and creativity based ‘team-building’ exercises, where corporate staff will be encouraged to grow closer to one another through creating art.