Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 7 September 2022

HINCKLEY’S soon-to-open real ale bar and coffeehouse The Clarence are looking for local budding entrepreneurs to try their hand in launching drinks and food businesses – and they have seed funding and grants up for grabs to financially support them.

As the Hinckley Free reported at the start of last month, The Clarence is currently in the process of having the interior of the building transformed.

It is owned by a local entrepreneur, who works with international businesses, and his key aim is to promote entrepreneurship amongst youth in local towns.

It will play home to a brand new ‘market street kitchen’ which is being built on ‘redundant space’ at the back of the building.

The large bar and café will be available for Entrepreneurs to try and innovate the drinks and food business.

Whilst they are in the process of setting up, they want to find the right local entrepreneurs to serve up food once they open – such as sandwich makers, cake makers, or a bakers, who could make their fresh pastries and loaves of bread.

There are also opportunities for drink businesses and drink delivery businesses to get involved.

The budding entrepreneurs will get support from the owners with seed funding and support to get innovation grant funds from the Leicestershire innovation hubs.

Paul Bukin, Premises Manager of The Clarence, told the Hinckley Free Press: “We’re a forward looking business trying to find local businesses and traders who can help us with the style of food and drinks that we want to offer [cocktails, specialty coffees, sandwiches, cakes, pastries, breads].

“We want to have all of our food and drinks locally-sourced, and we would like entrepreneurs establish their own business under our wings.

“Setting up business with the current business rates is next to impossible. We will do all that we can to help support those who have an interest in entrepreneurship, and we even have seed funding and direct to some grants available locally.”

Those interested are being encouraged to email paul@theclarencebar.com for further details.

The Clarence is aiming to open at the end of October – and it will officially open with a full charity event with food offered on the night.