A Far Eastern fusion for Birmingham.

Phoenix Wharf have completed a first outlet for Oricha, a new bubble tea emporium, located on Birmingham’s Coronation Street.

The concept is a fusion of ancient tea-drinking culture and a contemporary treatment, as well as melding East and West, taking inspiration from China, Japan and specially Taiwan, as well as from British tea and coffee houses. This fusion reflects the background of the brand’s owners, one-time students-turned-entrepreneurs, who first met at Bristol University, before plotting their new venture.

The 55.9 sq m space is made up of 16.9 sq m front of house and 18.6 sq m behind the counter. The deep counter is sited almost halfway back, so that customers don’t have to queue in the street. The counter front is clad in timber-effect laminate, set over custom-made steel units, and features brass detailing with a tiled lower section, using a porcelain tile that replicates the primary pattern from the brand identity system.

The interior features the Oricha branding at large scale, including a fret-cut T Rex, backed by tiles featuring the Oricha crest in pale gold. Other features include digital menu screens, a digital promotional poster screen along with feature lighting and a floor-to-ceiling joinery unit.

The inner shopfront area is painted royal blue, whilst the external shopfront is in dark stained wood with the brand pattern above the glazing. The Oricha name in gold on the fascia is backed by deliberately-faded timber panels to suggest age and authenticity, with a protruding ‘bus stop’ sign also featuring the full brand dinosaur-and-tea icon.