Bournemouth coffee shop Riptide has opened new venue

Found in Commercial Road, Riptide Espresso & Records is a coffee shop with friendly staff, a coastal themed interior, and groovy dance music on loop.

Its food and drink offerings include smoothies, coffee, milkshakes, bagels, and cakes – with the ‘kinderella brownie’ proving particularly popular with customers.

The café was opened on Monday, July 24, and is the second of the Riptide branch by Sam Sheldon, 27, and Aaron Blandford, 26.

The couple use their other branch in Poole to sell vinyl records and host music events – two things they hope to eventually bring to Bournemouth.

Riptide Espresso & Records in Bournemouth (Image: NQ)

Speaking on the motivation behind Riptide, Sam said: “We both really love coffee, and worked in coffee shops, and we also loved going to gigs.

“We’ve always been quite music heavy. Aaron is really into records and that side of things.

“So, we thought, ‘how can we put this together?’”

In promoting the two branches, the pair have adopted ‘wicked brews and sick tunes’ as their catchy strapline. 

The Bournemouth site has already been a hit with customers, and some have become established regulars in a matter of weeks.

Sam and Aaron have hope that with the introduction of more music elements to the café, it will only grow in popularity.

Riptide Espresso & Records in Bournemouth (Image: NQ)

Sam told the Daily Echo: “The reaction has been great. We’re getting a lot of people in from the language school, which is near, and when the schools are back open, we expect to get people coming in while they’re on the school run.

“There seems to be a lot of music loving people round here, and then there is all the clubs.

“DJ’s have been coming in and asking when we’ll be getting the music.”

While music events are yet to be planned for the Bournemouth site, Sam has visions of eventually opening out the venue and hosting DJ sessions.

To keep up to date with any announcements, visit @riptideespresso on Instagram.