The UK’s Birmingham has ultra-mini “phone booth cafes” where lattes are classy yet affordable

▲ A Birmingham old phone booth converted into a cafe (Photo/Jake's Coffee Box Facebook page)

By Rita

What do the UK’s double-decker buses, royal guards, and phone booths have in common? “Red.”

The bold crimson red is almost synonymous with British style, which travelers rarely miss—so locals got creative and turned phone booths into cafes. In addition tothe earlier countryside “honesty payment” phone booth cafes, you can now find them in Birmingham, the UK’s second-largest city too！

▲ Barista Hollier (Photo/Jake's Coffee Box Facebook page)

According to the Lonely Planet website, “Jake’s Coffee Box” is located in Birmingham’s financial district and opens weekly on Mondays, with the rich aroma of coffee wafting out from the traditional red phone booth. Many might not realize that these phone booths were actually abandoned until a local charity acquired them and began renting them out, hoping that creative minds would breathe new life into old objects！

Barista Hollier, a former hospital worker, said “business was non-stop on the first day.” Cappuccinos and lattes are priced around £2.3–£2.6, roughly NT$100, which is not high considering the UK’s expensive cost of living. This heartwarming initiative has created a win-win for the local economy and the business owner, and is also very appealing to travelers！

Jake’s Coffee Box
Red Kiosk, Eden Place, Colmore Row, B3 3SD Birmingham, United Kingdom
+44 7554 248076