Pop-up coffee bar Pause set to open permanent shop in Kings Heath

A much-loved pop-up coffee shop is set to get a permanent home this month (May) as the owners unveil plans for a new residence in Kings Heath.

Pause Coffee Shop is opening in Kings Court (High Street) on Wednesday 25 May.

The bricks and mortar coffee shop is ‘a dream come true’ for owners Farah Chaudry and Rory McGhie, who said they are thrilled to join the Kings Heath hospitality scene.

Famous for its quality coffee and creative bakes, the owners say Pause will provide “not only a relaxed venue to meet friends and family, but also an inclusive community-focused space where care is at the forefront of everything.”

How did Pause come about and what have the owners said?

Conceived during the pandemic, Pause started life as a home delivery service, providing coffee and sweet treats to Brummies before Farah and Rory enjoyed pop-up success in venues across Strichley and Bournville.

With over 15 years of hospitality experience between them, the duo believe the pandemic helped them reassess what was most important, and inspired them to focus on serving the community with compassion.

Farah - who left a successful law career to pursue her lifelong passion for baking - says: “Pause was born during lockdown at a time when people needed care and connections, but they were often quite difficult to find.

“When we opened our first popup, there were lockdown restrictions in place that meant you could only meet one person from another household for a walk. The name came from the fact that during this turbulent time, our customers could come in for a takeaway but were not able to sit in with us.

“We wanted our customers to pause for a brief moment and allow themselves to be cared for – it was important then and it’s still at the heart of what we do and will be when we open our doors in Kings Heath.”

“We were contacted by a friend of ours, Sabrina Fung of Blow Water, who told us that a great space was becoming available in Kings Heath. She knew we were looking for a permanent home and introduced us to our landlord, Paul - we’re so grateful to her.

“Making our home in Kings Heath came as a bit of surprise to us, as we had created a solid customer base in Stirchley, but as soon as we visited the space we knew it was the right move for us. We also spoke with Levain & Cherry who were excited to have us in King’s Court, and we’ve already started planning some exciting collaborations.”

‘Coffee shops are all about creating safe spaces’

And after successful popups at Stirchley staples Verbena and Artefact, how do they feel about their upcoming launch of their own shop?

“Coffee shops are all about creating safe spaces for people to just be people - a sanctuary. Life is so busy and with all the running around we find ourselves doing it’s important to have the time to stop, take a breath and find some peace. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to our new, permanent home,” said Rory.

“We’re so excited to join the thriving independent scene that make Birmingham so unique and special. We can’t wait to open the doors and get to know our new community. What Pause becomes is ultimately going to be a collaboration between us and our customers - we are excited to see what it becomes! This means everything to us,” Farah added.

Pause will be located at Kings Court (90 High Street) in Kings Heath and is set to open Wednesday 25 May.

Opening times: Wednesday to Sunday, times TBC.

News, updates and announcements will be posted via the Pause Instagram page.

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