Contact River & Bean

Contact and FAQ Copy

Contact us about bookings, organisation use, coffee orders, supporter membership, fundraising partnerships, River Cottage, events, I Ken, the Fresh Ayr Fund or professional support.

We are currently booking-led and not open daily for public access, so please contact us before travelling specifically to visit.

Address

River & Bean 13 Old Bridge Street Ayr KA7 1QA

We are the black door near the Old Bridge Street signs. It may be easier to search for number 15 Old Bridge Street when navigating.

Email

hello@riverandbean.co.uk

Phone

Members and confirmed booking contacts may receive a phone number where appropriate.

FAQ

Are you open as a normal cafe?

Not currently. River & Bean is operating by booking, arrangement, announced coffee windows, collection/delivery slots and partner-led sessions.

Can I just turn up?

Please do not travel specifically to visit without checking first. Takeaway coffee may be available during announced service windows or when we are on-site, but the venue is not currently staffed for daily drop-in access.

Can I book the space?

Yes. River & Bean is available for private hire, organisation use, meetings, workshops, support groups, fundraising, training, creative sessions and small private events.

How much is private hire?

Standard private hire is £100 for 3 hours or £175 for 6 hours.

Weekend and event hire is £150 for 3 hours or £250 for 6 hours.

Standard hire includes two jugs of filter coffee, one caffeinated and one decaf, plus a small selection of teas and instant coffee.

Can we bring food?

Yes. External catering is welcome, and we can help arrange local catering where useful.

How many people can attend?

We can seat up to around 30 depending on layout. Around 25 is more comfortable for longer sessions.

Do you offer charity or community rates?

Yes, where appropriate. Supported pricing may be available for charities, community groups, clubs, support groups, official student groups, for-good projects and eligible members.

Pricing depends on membership, subscription, booking pattern, purpose and fundraising route.

Can we run a ticketed event?

Potentially, yes. Subject to agreement and suitability, organisers can create events and sell tickets, event merch, drinks or fundraising products through the River & Bean system.

You remain the organiser of the event. River & Bean facilitates the venue, sales route and agreed support.

Can ticket sales cover the hire cost?

They may help cover or reduce the hire cost, especially for fundraisers, workshops, talks, launches, club events and charity events.

Full hire payment is required before the event starts. At River & Bean's discretion, ticket sales processed through our system may be used toward the hire balance.

Can we use our own payment provider?

Yes, where agreed. You may take payment yourself in cash or through your own payment provider, while using River & Bean to manage the event listing, tickets and attendance.

Alternatively, River & Bean may process ticket sales, subject to agreement to our event conditions.

What notice do ticketed events need?

Ticketed events require at least 72 hours notice, agreement from River & Bean, and a non-refundable hire deposit before ticket sales begin.

What happens if a ticketed event is cancelled?

If ticket purchases were made through River & Bean, ticket buyers will be refunded if the event is cancelled.

Organiser refunds are handled separately. Once an event is published on the River & Bean site and ticket sales have begun, organiser refunds are not normally available in full. River & Bean may deduct incurred costs from any agreed refund.

Organisers using River & Bean payment processing must agree to reimburse or be re-billed for refunds, reversals, chargebacks and post-event payment issues linked to their event.

What is a Base of Operations booking?

It is a private booking that gives a group a practical base in Ayr during a trip, event, outing or activity day. Your group can gather, leave bags, make drinks, regroup, charge phones, use facilities and avoid trying to coordinate everything from a pavement like civilisation has failed. Which it often has.

Is the venue accessible?

The current venue is a basement space and is not step-free. Please contact us before booking if anyone attending has mobility, access, sensory or support needs.

Are you still doing coworking?

Not as daily public coworking right now. Quiet work and coworking-style use may be available through private bookings, organisation use, partner-led sessions or future limited blocks.

What happened to the dry bar?

We had hoped to begin with a dry bar and social membership model, but we lost the partner route for that outside our control. It may return later if the right partnership, staffing and costs can be put in place.

What is the Fresh Ayr Fund?

A minimum of 1% of every River & Bean transaction goes to the River & Bean Fresh Ayr Fund. The fund is reviewed and disbursed quarterly, with active registered members able to vote fairly and transparently on eligible applications and proposals.

Is the Fresh Ayr Fund a charity?

No. The Fresh Ayr Fund is not currently a charity, trustee fund or independent charitable grant-maker. It is a transparent River & Bean commitment to reserve and disburse part of trading income for common-good use.

What is River Cottage?

River Cottage is a possible future route for more accessible public events, community use and private hire. It is an ambition, not a promise. River Cottage may be proposed for a Fresh Ayr Fund disbursement alongside other eligible organisations, clubs and projects.

Can my organisation partner with you?

Yes. We are interested in partnerships around support sessions, training, fundraising, coffee, Happy Coo treats, trusted organisation membership, access improvements, governance and common-good use.