The Boston Tea Party staged a memorable early evening party to mark the opening of their 15th café-bar at The School Yard in Harborne. 

Following a ten-week build, the new café unit has been transformed into a beautifully designed space that can seat 100 guests inside, with a further 50 outside in a private walled garden at the Grade II listed landmark. The walled space used to be the garden of the Victorian school building’s headmaster’s house.

The opening has created 43 jobs, and over its first weekend BTP ran three invite only sessions in which over 350 local residents and businesses experienced the café bar whilst giving the new employees an opportunity to complete their training.

Sam Roberts, managing director of BTP, said: “It’s great to be finally opening! Following the opening of our existing café-bar in Birmingham city centre in 2012, our customers have been suggesting we look at the surrounding areas too.

“We’ve been searching for suitable locations and buildings, and Harborne fitted the bill perfectly. The School Yard is a great scheme with bags of character and enables us to have an outside seating area, which we were very keen on.

“The transformation that the unit has gone through is incredible and we hope everyone enjoys the finished café. We’re very proud of it.”

The £5.5 million School Yard project, a development by EDG Property, is already home to Urban Coffee, Prezzo and the Harborne Food School, which is due to open later this year.

Neil Edginton, managing director of EDG Property, said: “This is another great name for Harborne and shows yet further confidence in Birmingham generally.

“Boston Tea Party is a great brand and adds strength to the mix of operators already open. This is the fifteenth site for Boston Tea Party and the first to have extended opening hours, from 7am to 11pm each day.

“We are really proud of The School Yard and are now extremely focused on the new contemporary residential building at the scheme, which will start on site in the coming months.”

The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Shafique Shah, said: “I am absolutely delighted to be here at this amazing School Yard venue.

“I have only been Lord Mayor four weeks and this is my third visit to Harborne. First I re-opened a Lloyd’s pharmacist, then an estate agency and now I’m here.

“I am delighted that Boston Tea Party selected Harborne. Businesses like this are the lifeblood of the local economy and I’m sure it will encourage more people to eat, drink and shop here.”

(Words courtesy of Phil Brown of Harborne, Edgbaston & Moseley Life)

EDG Property is delighted to report that the first release of homes at The School Yard, presented at last week’s launch event, sold out! Only five properties now remain at Harborne’s iconic scheme, which are yet to be released.

Located in a contemporary zinc building, designed by award-winning architects Bryant Priest Newman, the boutique apartments and duplexes will offer fashionable open-plan living. Complete with individually designed contemporary kitchens featuring granite worktops, designer bathrooms, a stylish mix of natural stone and timber floor finishes, video entry, many with roof terraces and secure parking, plus lift access.

Selling agent Andy Butts of Centrick Property commented “Opportunities in Harborne for quality new build apartments are few and far between and the level of demand for off-plan sales at The School Yard has been exceptional with this release selling out in two days.  With only a handful of homes now remaining here, it is more important than ever to register your interest to avoid disappointment.”

Occupying a prime position off the High Street and alongside the new private square, the contemporary residential building will complement the timeless appeal of Harborne’s Grade II Listed Clock Tower.

Please contact selling agent Centrick Property on 0121 347 6116 or email andy.butts@centrickproperty.co.uk for further details.