News | Posted 5 March 2026
The Coffee Shop that Started it all – Rose Street’s transformation
Our Rose Street coffee shop in Edinburgh has officially reopened following a full renovation, bringing fresh energy to the space where a simple job request from a Big Issue seller sparked a national movement to tackle homelessness, back in 2012.
That moment laid the foundations for us at Social Bite, and in the years since we’ve dedicated ourselves to to becoming a leading social business – creating employment for people facing homelessness and significant barriers to work, becoming one of the UK’s largest providers of freshly prepared free food, and delivering supportive housing and employability programmes nationwide. Last year alone, we provided almost 159,000 free food and drink items across the UK, including around 58,000 served from Rose Street alone.
The newly renovated shop reopens to the public tomorrow (Friday 6 March), complete with our Pay It Forward programme, which allows kind-hearted visitors and customers like you to buy a drink or a meal for someone who needs it. Additionally, our daily free food service will return to the shop from Monday 9 March.
The transformed space has created a light, bright and welcoming environment for paying and non-paying guests. With inclusivity front of mind, the space has been carefully designed to create a better experience for all by reconfiguring the layout and launching a new high quality food and drink menu for everyone to enjoy.
A new community bookshelf, stocked with books generously donated by Cannongate Books, adds to the inclusive feel of the coffee shop, encouraging connection, conversation and a sense of belonging. The coffee shop aims to become a hub for foodies, commuters and locals with plans for a bookclub, running club and live music nights.
The reopening was marked by a ribbon-cutting from Sonny Murray, one of Rose Street’s first employees, alongside our Co-Founder Josh Littlejohn MBE, our Managing Director Mel Swan, and Mitchells & Butlers Retail Business Manager Maclain Wilson. Sonny first came to the Rose Street shop back in 2013, accessing the free food service before asking staff for an opportunity to work – a chance that enabled him to secure accommodation and begin rebuilding his future. He now works as a tour guide with Invisible Cities in Edinburgh, which trains and employs people with lived experience of homelessness to become professional guides, and his journey reflects the long-term impact of meaningful employment.
Speaking about the Rose Street shop, Sonny Murray said: “This shop means a lot to me because it’s where things started to change – it gave me a chance to help rebuild my life. It’s brilliant to see it refurbished and reopening, and I hope it encourages more people to come in, grab a coffee and support what Social Bite does. The more people who walk through these doors, the more opportunities there are for people like me to get back on our feet.”
Josh Littlejohn MBE, Social Bite Co-Founder, said: “It’s incredibly special to stand back in the place where this all began. Rose Street is where the idea for Social Bite as we know it first took shape, sparked by a simple question about a job. From that moment, we set out to prove that business can be a force for good. To see how far we’ve come, from one small coffee shop to supporting thousands of people across the UK with food, employment and housing support and services, is something we’re immensely proud of. Reopening this space feels like both a homecoming and a reminder of why we started.”
The renovation was made possible thanks to the generous support and time of project partners including Mitchells & Butlers, Matthew Algie, Surface ID, Donaldson Construction, WHP Quantity Surveying and YCE Catering Equipment, whose collaboration has helped create a space that truly reflects Social Bite’s mission. A huge thank you from all of us here for all their support in making this happen.
Visitors to Social Bite Rose Street can expect a delicious new menu featuring breakfast and lunch options, freshly baked pastries, and expertly crafted barista drinks, including special rose flavoured additions to mark the relaunch such as the Rose Matcha, Rose Latte, and Rose Mocha. Every purchase helps to fund our work supporting people who have experienced and been affected by homelessness, as well as its Pay It Forward system, which helps provide free food and drink to thousands of vulnerable people across the UK each year.
We invite the local community, businesses and visitors to come along and experience good food for a good cause, where great coffee, delicious food, and community support come together to help change lives.