Rugby stars’ scrum-ptious donut and coffee chain expands

Donuts and professional sportsmen don’t sound like a marriage made in heaven but that’s just how it has worked out for former Ulster Rugby stars Callum Black and Darren Cave.

The pair, who launched their first Guilt Trip coffee and donut outlet in 2017, have just opened their ninth premises on Belfast’s Lisburn Road, creating six full and part-time barista jobs in the process.

The new 20-seater venue befitted from a £50,000 investment and hospitality veteran Adrian McLaughlin is now on board as a business partner.

Adrian, who also owns The York Hotel in Portsewart, previously managed Belfast’s five-star Merchant Hotel and luxury golf resort Carton House in County Kildare.

Guilt Trip Coffee + Donuts now employs 80 people at sites in Belfast, Portstewart and Worcester, England as well as a team of staff to bake and decorate donuts at a purpose-built premises on the outskirts of Belfast.

Co-founder Darren Cave said: “Northern Ireland’s love affair donuts continues, we’re excited to expand to bring Guilt Trip to the south side of the city. B

“Belfast’s Lisburn Road is a haven for independent coffee shops, and we hope Guilt Trip will complement the existing offering.

Darren Cave, co-founder and director Adrian McLaughlin“We’ve experienced something of a meteoric rise in demand for our donuts and coffee, often selling out.

“We hand make, bake and glaze our donuts fresh every morning and everything we put into our donuts is made from scratch.

“In America, donuts are the go-to sweet snack to grab and go and we’re so pleased that we’re able to bring our single origin roast coffee and merchandise to donut lovers across Northern Ireland.

“We have our sights on further new sites both locally and in England which we hope to announce later this summer”.