Wrexham coffee shop transforms derelict space into vibrant community parklet

A derelict space behind a Wrexham coffee shop has been transformed into a fab-brew-less space for the community to enjoy.

Jayde Webster opened Brew Corner, on Victoria Road in Wrexham, in May 2023.

The coffee and sandwich shop also showcases crafts and gifts from local suppliers and independent artists and is supplied with its coffee by the Wrexham Bean Company.

Her vision was to create an inviting outdoor space where people can gather, appreciate local talents and to build a real sense of community, and over the last 16 months she has done this.

Jayde teamed up Chester landscape architecture practice Land Studio to design and to build a community parklet for Brew Corner to encourage people to get together.

Before the works

“Jayde approached us because she wanted to take her vision a step further and asked us if we could help to transform a small derelict space at the back of her coffee shop into a meaningful area for the local community to enjoy,” explained Simon Richards, Director of Land Studio.

“We were delighted to help. Matt Northall, a Project Landscape Architect at Land Studio, provided some design ideas for the piece of land, which was costing the landlady an annual sum to maintain, and our team helped to build it.”

Jayde, who formerly worked as a customer services representative for the holiday company TUI, and who lives in Wrexham, said: “I love to get involved in the local community and to bring people together.

“It has been brilliant to have the help of Matt and Land Studio to transform what was a bit of an eyesore of a space where people dumped their rubbish.

“Matt’s drawings were brilliant and really brought it all to life and it was very kind of the company to help fund and construct the project.”

Jayde Webster outside Brew Corner in Wrexham

The community parklet was built over the summer thanks to a team of helpers, including local artists and community groups.

Many of the materials used during the constructions were recycled and reused.

“As a grassroots initiative our aim is to involve as many members of the community as we can and engage with local groups, including the Scouts and Incredible Edible Wrecsam who have also helped us,” added Jayde.

“Local artists and planting are providing colour and brightening up the space. Our vision is to have lots of edible planting next summer including salads, herbs and fruits which we can use in our cooking and also give to the community to enjoy.

“Children from the local primary school over the road have donated old milk cartons which they have painted and decorated for us.

“It’s great to have such a lovely outside area with seating and to see so people settling in with a book, enjoying the ambience and or enjoying a coffee and catching up with and making new friends. We’ve even had people reconnecting after 30 years, which is amazing.”

After the works

Laura Watkins, leader of 41st Wrexham Cubs and Scouts, which also helped with the planting and painting, said: “We were really pleased to be able to help build such a beautiful community area and to see what a difference the hard work has made.

“One of our scouts was amazed by how much the flowers have grown during the summer holidays.”

Land Studio is a leading landscape architecture, engineering and ecology design practice creating nature-based solutions. Based in Chester, the company specialises in historic landscape, masterplanning, public realm design and regeneration projects both in the UK and internationally.