Trestle: Excitement as Fade to Black open 2nd site

Trestle Arts Base is the home for the café's new site, with Fade to Black already operating in The Quadrant.

Situated downstairs at the arts centre, the site has undergone a complete refurbishment with a rustic and homely feel.

A slightly smaller menu is present at Trestle's Fade to Black. (Image: Fade to Black)

The Herts Advertiser spoke with co-owner Gary Smith about the opening: "Trestle reached out to a number of local companies to see if they were interested in running the café.

"We showed our interest and they came back to us. I think quite a few people in the area already knew who we were in Marshalswick, because we're so local.

A rustic and homely feel has been created at the new site. (Image: Fade to Black)

"We're very community orientated as well, they liked that, and it just went from there.

"It was a very quick turnaround. We liked what they were doing here, so it was a very good match."

The café has undergone a complete refurbishment. (Image: Fade to Black)

Speaking of the differences between the Trestle and Marshalswick sites, more walk-in traffic was mentioned, but Gary was keen to stress the importance of remaining on-brand.

"We are trying to do a very similar thing with all the food, the coffee is the same, coffee machines are the same, beers are the same, the wines are primarily the same at the moment.

Fade to Black is already involved in Trestle's Community Spaces scheme. (Image: Fade to Black)

"So there is a little bit of branding going on with both the shops. 

"The menus are very similar. This one's not quite as detailed here yet. But, the feedback has been brilliant!"

Diving straight into the ethos of Trestle, with the company being a registered charity, the organisation and Fade to Black are collaborating on Community Spaces sessions.

SUGGESTED READING

• St Albans: Fade to Black 'thrilled' to open site at Trestle

• Specialist coffee bar in St Albans applies for alcohol licence

These sessions allow those who cannot afford a coffee or food to enjoy them between 11am and 2pm every weekday.

Manager of Fade to Black's Trestle site, Sophie Cooper, added: "They have a table reserved, and they are coming to have a tea and a cake. It's lovely.

"It's a great community, obviously with Trestle being a charity as well, we have to support this and it's brilliant!

Fade to Black hope to organise cinema nights and live music sessions in the future. (Image: Fade to Black)

"It's very different from the other shop that we have in Marshalswick. There's nothing else around here- in terms of other coffee shops - so it's a great location."