Blackburn's Exchange Coffee nominated for Best Coffee Shop

A total of 10 coffee shops are battling it out to be named as our best of the year, and Exchange Coffee in Blackburn is among your finalists.

Based in Fleming Square, the store has become an institution in the town and is famed for its coffee roaster that fills the town centre with the smell of freshly cooked beans.

It has an almost endless range of coffees sourced from around the world, including a number of bean varieties which have won Great Taste Awards, plus a huge choice of teas.

Richard Isherwood, the general manager at Exchange, said: “Everyone is chuffed, it is a good lift and it puts a smile on everyone’s faces.

“It would mean a lot to the staff who work so hard in the shop and for people to recognise them and what they do.”

Set up in Blackburn Market in the 1980s the business has gone from strength to strength.

It was originally asked to move from the premises in the market due to the smell of the coffee roaster being left on clothes sellers' merchandise.

After settling at the current premises it has continued to expand, boasting its coffee house and private dining space in Fleming Square, a coffee bar in Blackburn Market,  a coffee house in Clitheroe, its roastery in Blackburn, plus locations over the Pennines in Skipton and Todmorden.

Richard added: “A lot of the staff have been here a long time, and customers are like friends.

"We are in an old Victorian arcade and each shop has its own vibe.

“There is a William Morris design, nice old school furniture, and people can hire the dining room for a group between eight and 20.”

Focusing on sustainably sourcing its beans, Exchange has found its Terra Preta beans from Brazil fly off the shelves, with the company dealing with the coffee farm directly.

Additionally, it offers a big selection of cakes and there is always a daily special of working lunches, which includes soups and toasted sandwiches.

As for much of the hospitality industry, the impact of the Covid pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis has caused big disruptions and Richard said the Blackburn store was the last to recover.

He also explained that people working from home and remote learning at Blackburn College hurt business, but it has always tried to keep prices affordable, with the cheapest coffee priced at £2.45.

Richard added: “It was a struggle at the beginning and with the cost-of-living crisis we have tried hard to keep the price for coffee as cheap as possible.”

He also wanted to remind anyone voting in the competition that they can drop their slips off at the café rather than posting them.

We will be featuring each of the finalists in the Best Coffee Shop competition over the coming days.

To vote, pick up a paper copy of the Lancashire Telegraph. Once all votes have been counted a winner will be announced next month.