Posh coffee shop chain WatchHouse – with brews that cost £25 – is opening a new cafe in north London

If you’re on the hunt for seriously swanky coffee, WatchHouse is the place. The chain’s rare range of brews can set you back by as much as £25 a pop – yep, those are some bougie beans. And its latest site is making it that much easier for northwest Londoners to splash some cash on a cup of joe.

Launched in 2014 in Bermondsey Street, WatchHouse has sites dotted across the Big Smoke, including a newly-opened spot in St John’s Wood. Expect caffeinated classics and seasonal specialities on the drinks menu, along with a range of pastries from what it’s calling its ‘viennoiserie’ – basically a posh bakery. 

As with all WatchHouse coffee shops, the NW8 cafe, which has taken over the high street space that was formerly home to Orée Boulangerie, takes design cues from the local area. On one of the walls hangs a signed ‘Three Forms Assembling’ print by Barbara Hepworth, who lived in the area during her early career as a sculptor. The 500 square foot coffee house centres around WatchHouse’s signature warm oak espresso bar. Other features include a concave ceiling (a nod to the nearby St John’s Wood Church) and chalk-toned walls. 

Along with space for 20 covers inside, you’ll also be able to enjoy your cup of java al fresco courtesy of an outdoor seating area and awning extending onto the street front. 

We can expect to see a lot more WatchHouses popping up across the city. The chain has its sights set on shops at the Millennium Bridge, Queensway, Brunel Square and Basinghall. 

WatchHouse isn’t just a London chain, either. As well as a shop in Bath, it’s present in the UAE and New York, where it recently got financial backing from a private equity firm run by Jeff Bezos’s younger brother. Founder Roland Horne says he wants to grow from 25 to 100 sites worldwide in the next three years, with a 10-year vision of hitting 1,000.

North Londoners with a hankering for high-end bean juice can head to 51A St John's Wood High St, NW8 7NJ to check out the new space.

Did you see that one of London’s best bakeries is opening a second location?

Plus: this popular north London Italian restaurant is opening a second site.

Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and trends. Just follow our Time Out London WhatsApp channel.

Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.