Rugby boys co-own excellent coffee house in Bath
Two rugby-players have successfully opened and are running Jika Jika in the beautiful World Heritage city of Bath. Lee Mears, player for Bath England and British Lions forged an alliance with fellow-rugby player Matt Stevens, to create the new business venture and open the Jika Jika coffee shop.
The coffee house is named after King Jika Jika, a flamboyant explorer from the Glorieuse Island in North East Africa, who is credited with all manner of strange discoveries on his travels, such as hallucinogenic mushrooms and who had a particular penchant for coffee. King Jika Jika is rumoured to have brought some 28 varieties of coffee back home when he returned to Glorieuse Island. Legend has it, his coffee became the best south of Somalia.
The two coffee-loving rugby boys will be playing against each other at the weekend. Matt Stevens had to leave Bath rugby club in 2009 after it was found that he had taken cocaine, earning himself a 2 year ban. He subsequently signed up with Saracens and took up with the sport once more in January 2011.
Despite their on-field rivalry, the two men are good friends and their business is going from strength to strength. They have taken time to taste and use high-quality coffee on their menu, served by passionate baristas. The Jika Jika menu also includes locally sourced food and a great selection of tea.
As King Jika Jika is rumoured to have said: ‘Give yourself a break and get what Coffee gives to you.’