Park, Sip, Ride: First Bus and kWh Coffee serve up speciality brews for journeys at Askham Bar

Askham Bar Park and Ride in York just got a whole latte better thanks to a new partnership with First Bus and York-based speciality coffee roaster kWh (Kilowatt Hour) Coffee.

The launch of the coffee service for Park and Ride customers means people can now park and buy a barista-made coffee before heading into York on the Park and Ride (Service 3).

The collaboration is part of First Bus’s ongoing work with local businesses to add to the Park and Ride experience. It also builds on the sustainability ambitions of kWh Coffee and the bus operator.

The First Bus team moved ahead with the partnership having visited kWh’s roastery, located just 500m from the York bus depot. Sustainability underpins both businesses, with the Park and Ride service and kWh Coffee powered by 100% renewable electricity. The café itself operates from a converted horsebox, giving a new use to an existing vehicle.

Founded by Shaun and Caitlin, kWh is now serving passengers at Askham Bar with specialty coffee roasted less than three miles away.  The all-electric operation schedules production around live National Grid data, timing each batch to the windows when Britain's power grid runs greenest.

kWh Coffee is at Askham Bar Park and Ride every week, Monday - Friday: 8:00am to 3:00pm, and Saturdays 9:30am to 5:00pm

Stephen Moyle, General Manager at First Bus in York, said: "We're always looking for ways to improve our customers’ experience, and partnering with local businesses like kWh Coffee is a fantastic way to do just that. After extending our operating hours with funding by City of York Council last July, and seeing our commuter base expand, this is the next step in our journey in delivering more than just transport to the people of York and beyond.”

Caitlin Walker, co-founder of kWh Coffee, said: “I'm from North Yorkshire, and regular travel into York meant the bus network was very important to me. Launching this with First Bus in York means a lot. Everything we do runs on electricity: the roaster, the deliveries, now the horsebox. Buses and coffee are both really about better mornings, and we think a proper flat white, roasted sustainably up the road, is a good place to start.”

Anna Courtier, Commercial Support Manager at First Bus who helped create the partnership, added: “We are really excited to see this partnership come to life and look forward to supporting further growth of the offering to customers.”

• For more information about York Park & Ride services, visit yorkparkandride.co.uk
• To learn more about kWh Coffee, visit kwhcoffee.com/firstbus.