Social Bite – Glasgow's new safe space
The outside of the newly opened The Social Bite Credit: Bliss Rendall
The Social Bite, located in Buchanan Galleries, is Glasgow’s newest addition to coffee shops although this one is serving a specific purpose; the café was created by a charity by the same name for the purpose of having a safe space for homeless people in Glasgow, free of judgment and many facilities to use such as books and electronic devices.
There is a table within the café dedicated to the charity with donation boxes for anyone wanting to contribute to the cause and the money from orders will also be put towards the money raised. Customers can also choose to ‘Pay it Forward' which provides a free meal for any other customers struggling with homelessness.
A wider view of Social Bite and the surrounding area Credit: Bliss Rendall
All the packaging and equipment are also sustainably sourced, and prices are reasonable especially when considering the reason why the food and drink must be cheaper than a regular Starbucks or Costa.
The café offers an industrial feel with brick walls but appears very comfortable due to the sofas and cushions occupying the space. It feels slightly elegant with green and grey accents, it’s an aesthetic that is sure to appeal to people of all ages, it’s also calm and relaxing – perfect for students or anyone trying to escape for an hour or two.
Booth at The Social Bite Credit: Bliss Rendall
The café already appeared to be busy for opening not too long ago, it was filled with friends chatting over a warm cup and individuals taking bites of toasties while busy on their laptops. It felt very homely, everyone was busy doing their own thing while all enjoying the company of others around them.
As this is a coffee shop, it is vital for the coffee drinkers to know if the coffee is good or not, which will become obvious the minute you take a sip from your mug that the coffee is defiantly on a different level to that of the other Glasgow coffee shops, it’s a very warm comforting cup of coffee and feels very much similar to the vibe the café was trying to give.
Two lattes at The Social Bite Credit: Bliss Rendall
As for the food, the business has a specific way of acquiring this as well, all the food is supplied by local suppliers in and around Glasgow such as Freedom Bakery providing the pastries and Brossbagels supplying the delicious-looking bagels.
This also widely supports smaller companies in Glasgow that now have a trusted supplier they can depend on often while gaining attention from the Social Bite customers.
All the sandwiches and desserts are incredible looking and vary in flavours and textures, especially the cinnamon bun, which is incredibly soft and sweet.
Food displayed at The Social Bite Credit: Bliss Rendall
The purpose of the café is evident inside and offers a new way for Glaswegians to help those struggling with homelessness, hopefully, this brings as much positive impact as possible for the people of Glasgow.