We are open today (24th December!) at all shops until about midday. We will then be closed until Saturday 4th January. We have lots of fresh bread, pastry, bags of coffee etc. Thanks to everyone who’s passed through over the last year. We look forward to seeing you in the New Year
Neil Le Bihan was the first person i ever ‘employed’ to work at Browns of Brockley. A chance encounter through one of the square mile tasting events back in 2009. He was finishing up at Monmoth and looking for some part time work - and i needed someone to work with me at the shop. He was a good 10 years older than me. His wordly knowledge and open personailty, along with his practical coffee skills really made the shop what it was in those quiet, early days. He taught me the importance of harnessing good regular customers - and built up a stalwart of characters that made a lasting impression on me and the business. I think of many of them often. Some still come in regulary. There are still customers that come in today who were served by him. Neil also ran, alongside our friend Lynsey Harley, a coffee stall at Lewisham Market which is where this photo was taken. Something i know he loved doing. After finishing working with me, Neil remained living in Brockley and was often in the shop. But after a few years he drifted away and, like many wonderful people that have worked at the shop, we lost contact over the last 8 years. He recently reappeared building up his own coffee roasters with his partner at a chocolate shop in Crystal Palace. Despite its close proximity i am ashamed to admit that i never made my way over there. Through a complete chance encounter at one of our shops last week i found out that Neil took his own life on 12th October. I have thought about him many times since i heard this news - About how grateful i am for how patient and understanding he was with me while i was working out how to run a shop. I will remember him fondly. Unfortunate that im writing a memorandum on this stupid app, than being able to tell him directly. A life lesson for us all perhaps. We have purchased some chocolates (if youre wondering why you recived a chocolate today..) from his partners shop and donated to Samaritans in his name.
Hello, did you know we own and operate our bakery that supplies all the breads, cakes and pastry to all the shops? It’s based in Honor Oak/ Forest Hill (SE23) We are looking for a new baker to join our team. While we would prefer someone with bakery and viennoiserie experience - we will also consider those with out. Usually never more than two bakes a week (3/4am - 11/12) otherwise day shifts (7am -3pm) in a team of 4 others. A few perks like discounts in our associated shops and the chance to make ham sandwiches to give out at the pub on st Patrick’s day.
Full job description in the link in our bio. Salary £27,000 - £32,000 based on experience.
After contacting the management company of the unit next door to us at the bakery, contacting TFL, contacting the DVLA, walking down our road asking neighbours if we could see their CCTV. We received an email from the Met Police informing us that someone had towed our car to Ponders End. Not entirely sure why because it’s SORN and classic car status. But £221 later, a wonderful excursion to Enfield, and an hours drive home. I am pleased to say WUG has returned home. Thanks for everyone’s comments and concern.
Some good news, bad news and middling news.
We are putting our prices up to combat the increase of absolutely every single thing we buy. We hope you can understand that as a small business we can’t constantly absorb these costs.
To soften the blow we are releasing a small box of 100 cards across all the shops today. The middling news is that they’re going to cost £200. So more than they were previously but still a fine saving to be made on a warm Friday morning. One card per person terms and conditions apply!
While the majority of my artistic practice is in the hospitality field. I am working on another photography project at the moment that I thought I would share. It’s entitled ‘how’s work going’
After about 23 months of closure you can once again sit down inside at Browns of Brockley 5-6 Coulgate Street, London, SE4 2RW. We had some good times behind the curtain during those covid times. And also some not quite good times. Thanks for all baring with us while we sort ourselves out. You still need to run your own drink though.
Hello. As you may have seen we are looking for someone to come and drive/manage our coffee van. At the moment we operate at Brockley Market on Saturdays, Victoria Park on Sundays and then we do the cricket at Lords over the Summer. There’s scope for the right individual to grow this side of the business massively if they do wish (ie it can be full time) We’d be equally happy for someone to work this around their other commitments (ie it could also be part time around 25 hours) you need to be able to drive, you need to be nice, if you have coffee experience that would be fantastic but it’s not essential. Starting salary is £20 per hour. The full job description is in the link in our bio.
And we are done for another year. We’ll re-open on 3rd January. It’s been a long year and pretty stressful towards the end. We would not have made it through were it not for an extraordinary set of customers and colleagues. Thanks to all that came through. My personal apologies to everyone that is owed a Christmas card, email, text, phonecall or any other kind of general acknowledgment. We got rather waylaid with shifts. Here’s to a more peaceful, less frantic 2022
