Member Article

Friends phenomenon grows with opening of Central Perk Bold Street

As interest in sitcom Friends is reignited for its 20th anniversary, the latest addition to the Central Perk coffee shop franchise has opened its doors in Liverpool.

Centrally located on Bold Street, the specialist coffee shop welcomes its first customers this week.

It joins the established venues of Central Perk Hatton Garden in Liverpool, which opened in April 2012, followed one year later by Central Perk Chester, situated in the centre of the Roman city. The Hatton Garden venue expanded to double its original size after just 12 months to meet demand.

Central Perk Bold Street is licensed and can accommodate up to 100 covers across two floors, creating 15 new jobs. The brand will continue to work with local suppliers, including Joe Black Coffee, who have created and supply the exclusive Central Perk blend of coffee.

Group Director Steven Hesketh explained:

“We are delighted how customers in Liverpool and Chester have embraced the Central Perk brand, so to open our third venue in less than three years is no mean feat in the current economic climate.

“We were confident that Central Perk would prove popular, but it has exceeded our expectations. The demand is there, so we’re excited and looking forward to introducing new customers to Central Perk – I know they won’t be disappointed.

“Bold Street is a thriving Liverpool hotspot, and home to a lot of independent businesses. We are keen to become part of that community and work alongside our neighbours to continue to raise the profile of Bold Street and attract new custom.

“Seeing the look on people’s faces when they step through the door is priceless. They feel like they’ve just stepped onto the Friends’ set. They want to recreate that moment and meet their own friends here – relax on the comfortable sofas and armchairs, and have that same feeling of catching up over a coffee and cheesecake. And also catch an episode of Friends at the same time.”

Central Perk venues are based on the famous Manhattan coffee shop where the six Friends characters – Chandler, Joey, Monica, Phoebe, Rachel and Ross – would often meet. It was a hub of the sitcom and featured prominently.

The Central Perk brand is owned and operated in association with Warner Bros and under its licence for the UK and Northern Ireland, so more Central Perk shops are being planned to open across the country where ‘Friends’ can meet.

Steven added:

“The appeal of the Friends brand continues to be strong, with customers travelling to specifically experience our unique coffee shops and take home a special piece of official Central Perk memorabilia.

“We pride ourselves on the quality of our team. All staff members are fully qualified baristas and make every coffee with care. We are now exploring opportunities to develop sites in Southport, St. Helens and Manchester. This is part of our detailed franchising model which will see an estimated 300 Central Perk coffee shops open across the country in the next 10 years.”

The Friends phenomenon began back in 1994 when the American sitcom was first broadcast. The six key characters soon became household names and attracted a cult following during the 10 years the show was on air.

It is now 10 years since the final episode was screened – but the show and its characters remain just as popular today, two decades since it first started. The last show was broadcast in May 2004, watched by 52.5 million American viewers – making it the fourth most watched series finale in television history and the most watched episode of the decade.

Central Perk coffee shops host regular events including quiz nights; movie nights, and live music with open mic slots – ideal for finding the next Phoebe and their own version of Smelly Cat!

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Erica Dillon .