Project
Stokes Tea & Coffee, an award-winning family business that has been serving people for over a century, sought to create a new headquarters in Lincoln that reflected their identity and ambition. In 2016, the Lincoln team was instructed to acquire The Lawn, a striking Grade II listed Greek Revival building, for redevelopment into a mixed-use space that would include a café, restaurant, offices, and theatre.
Approach
Following Stokes Tea & Coffee’s successful acquisition, our team was retained to provide development consultancy and project management for the sympathetic restoration and transformation of the site. Originally built in 1817 as an asylum, The Lawn required careful planning to respect its original features.
Given the building’s listed status, we worked closely with local planning and conservation authorities to secure approvals and maintain the character of the structure. Our team led the restoration works, ensuring the use of traditional materials and skilled craftspeople throughout. The redevelopment was phased to suit the client’s schedule and maintain operational flexibility during the fit out.
Additionally, we coordinated the delivery of a new 102-space car park as part of the wider site development, adding value for the client and the local community.
Results
The Lawn has been fully let and occupied since completion, with the 60-seater Stokes restaurant as its centrepiece. Praise for its eco-conscious refurbishment and craftsmanship has helped it to become another loved aspect of the Stokes Tea & Coffee brand.
The building now serves as a vibrant hub for Stokes’ operations and a cultural destination in the city. The adjacent car park, now managed by the City of Lincoln Council, provides a new revenue stream for the area.
Our involvement helped bring this unique vision to life and delivered a landmark project that celebrates local heritage while supporting modern commercial needs.
We’ve worked with Eddisons for many years and they have always provided sound advice for all our property requirements. Our latest project, the purchase and refurbishment of the Lawn, a 19th-century former asylum, was very daunting, but the team helped in all aspects of the development from build to lettings and now we have a wonderful, fully occupied building, home to twelve businesses.
