3rd May 2011 - Messenger (Our opening day)

A SUCCESSFUL husband and wife business team are hoping their new venture will become a hub of the Sale community.

Michelle and Graham Starling, 39 and 42, from Woodville Drive, set up one of the country’s most successful lazer quest’s at the Trafford Centre eight years ago, and have helped organise more than 14,000 birthday parties.

The couple, who have three small children at Park Road School, spent three years looking for the perfect Trafford building to operate their new business before settling on the Old Sorting Office in Sale town centre.

Bean and Brush Family Art Cafe, on Hayfield Street, was officially opened by the Mayor of Trafford, Councillor Ken Weston on Tuesday May 3rd.

Read full article: www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/news/8998815.Husband_and_wife_duo_create_hub_of_Sale_community

May 2011 - Net Mums (Customer reviews)

Bean and Brush is just what Sale needed, beautiful cafe with even more beautiful food. Kids menu varied, delicious and so reasonable. Attentive staff, child friendly. The art mezzanine is private with lots of lovely ideas for adults and children. [jo wright]

Read full article: www.netmums.com/manchester/local/view/restaurants-pubs-and-cafes/cafes/bean-brush-family-art-cafe

30th Sept 2011 - North West Nosh (Clandestine Cake Club)

Another month, another excuse to meet up with the lovely ladies of Manchester's clandestine cake club and another excuse to eat cake because "it's good to try other people's recipes in the aid of gastronomic research." Yeah...er...

This time we were hosted by the quirky Bean and Brush Art Cafe, set in the centre of Sale; it's a revelation in do-it-yourself arts and would be a brilliant place to take the kids. If I had any. Never fear as there is plenty of great coffee, food and beer action that also makes this a wonderful place for the adults to hang out too (and you can join in the arts too if you like!). Indeed their coffee is very good and the staff are very friendly. The menu looks good for a light bite or spot of lunch too - it's kid friendly enough without being overly patronising to the little people.

Read full article: northwestnosh.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/clandestine-cake-club-bean-and-brush.html

18th Dec 2011 - Messenger (Sale cafe scoops award)

A SALE cafe that only opened six months ago has picked up an award for being the best family restaurant in Manchester.

The Bean & Brush Family Art Cafe scooped the ‘Favourite Family Friendly Place To Eat’ in Manchester award in a Mumsnet online poll this week.

The cafe, on Hayfield Street, fought off stiff competition from Croma and Dimitris in Manchester city centre to win the prize. Italian restaurant Oca, on the Waterside Plaza in Sale, picked up second place.

Read full article: www.messengernewspapers.co.uk/news/9421667.Sale_cafe_scoops_award

7th May 2012 - BBC Radio Manchester

BBC's Andy Crane interviews Graham Starling about starting a business during a recession.

Listen to the interview: www.beanandbrush.co.uk/bbc.mp3

15th Feb 2012 - Kids Confidentail

Confidential rating: 13/15

Family-friendly service 4/5, Facilities 5/5, Kids Food 4/5

The cafe is warm and welcoming; wooden floors, red walls, big lampshades, lines of cakes and pastries on display by the till and the smell of  bacon and coffee filling the air. It was busy but calm, a contrast from what we'd just come from.

The craft area is at the back of the building, up a small set of stairs. There is a lift for wheelchair access.

Read full article: www.kidsconfidential.co.uk/Eating-Out/Bean-And-Brush-Art-Cafe-Review

4th June 2012 - Manchester Evening News

Bean & Brush celebrates first birthday

A couple are celebrating the first anniversary of their switch from laser beams to coffee beans and are brewing up expansion plans for their latest venture.

Michelle and Graham Starling opened a Laser Quest at the Trafford Centre nearly 10 years ago and were looking to expand, but found there was a lack of suitable sites for the laser tag game.

Instead they decided to diversify and take on a new challenge, launching Bean & Brush at The Old Sorting Office, Sale.

Read full article: www.menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/business/enterprise/s/1560364_bean--brush-celebrates-first-birthday

2nd July 2012 - Visit Manchester

Top 5 family friendly places to discover local produce - [No. 1 - Bean & Brush]

Bean & Brush in Sale is open 7 days a week for coffee, cake, wraps, pizza’s, soups, stews and salads. They proudly source their ingredients from various local producers. Salad leaves come via ‘Manchester Veg People’, ‘Clippy’s’ supply relishes, chutneys and jams, local butcher ‘Taylor’s’ supply their meat, and bread comes from ‘Nice Buns Bakery Ltd’ in Stockport. After lunch, children can venture upstairs for a wide range of activities such as ‘paint a pot’, ‘clay imprints’, ‘Decopatch’ or biscuit decoration. A range of locally brewed bottled beers are also available to keep parents entertained.

Read full article: www.visitmanchester.com/discover/familyfriendlygarden/MAN-84771_heatonpark.aspx#/articles/family-friendly/family-friendly-local-produce.aspx