A Small Fish in a Big Pond has opened in the city’s historic Oriel Chambers in Water Street, selling handmade cakes, sandwiches and its signature turmeric lattes

A small independent coffee shop has made a big splash in Liverpool’s business district just weeks after opening.

A Small Fish in a Big Pond has opened in the city’s historic Oriel Chambers in Water Street in the building’s lower ground floor, which offers arched ceilings, original cast-iron doors and a range of vintage furniture.

The café, which sells handmade cakes, sandwiches and its signature turmeric lattes, has already collected a loyal following of coffee-loving customers from within the building itself and among neighbouring apartment and office buildings around Water Street.

Additional space

It is the brainchild of entrepreneur Cheryl Braham who says the immediate success of the business means she is already considering taking additional space beneath the building.

Oriel Chanbers was designed by architect Peter Ellis and famously inspired some of the world’s first skyscrapers in Chicago and New York.

Cheryl said: “I had wanted to set up an independent coffee house for some time and as soon as I saw this space, bursting with personality and quirky features and at the heart of a beautiful city street, I just knew it was right.

Somewhere cosy

“The idea was to create somewhere cosy that people could feel comfortable staying to work or socialise. Several people have remarked that it feels as if we have always been here, which is absolutely the best comment we could hope for.

“One of the biggest surprises has been the sense of community that exists in this corner of the city centre. There are lots of established businesses in Oriel Chambers as well as dozens of residents from the neighbouring apartment buildings who have welcomed us with open arms and have already become regulars.”

Positive feedback

Tony Reed, head of sales at building owner Bruntwood, added: “Since A Small Fish in a Big Pond opened its doors, we’ve had incredibly positive feedback from our customers in Oriel Chambers, who are excited to have such a high quality, independent venue on their doorstep.

“This is an important first step in our ongoing ambitions to revitalise the ground floor spaces at Oriel Chambers to create great amenity and a real sense of destination in such an historically important building.”