One of the pleasures of living in York is watching independent businesses quietly grow into the fabric of the city. Some arrive with fanfare; others simply get on with doing things well and creating spaces people want to return to. Bar Hashery is a perfect example.
Four years ago, Jolanta and Prafful took on a small café in Bootham. Today, Bar Hashery has expanded to five sites across York, alongside a sixth in Leeds, yet the couple remain as grounded as ever. There has been no grand plan to build an empire, no shouting about success. Instead, growth has come through a simple approach: doing things properly and letting customers spread the word.
What has remained consistent throughout is their focus on quality. From pastries and cakes to brunch dishes and coffee, much of what Bar Hashery serves is made in-house, and Jolanta and Prafful only put things on the menu that they would enjoy themselves.
It’s an approach that reflects Jolanta and Prafful’s own backgrounds. Both spent years working in hospitality before opening Bar Hashery, learning from the best examples of customer service as well as seeing where businesses sometimes get it wrong. When the opportunity came to take on the Bootham site, they had a clear vision of the experience they wanted to create: a place where customers are treated more like guests.
Alongside the cafés, the business has steadily evolved. A dedicated bakery allowed Jolanta more space for production and experimentation. The expansion has also enabled Bar Hashery to develop its own distinctive identity, from its popular pastries to the savoury waffles that helped it stand out when it first launched.
York has played a big part in this journey. Jolanta and Prafful have spoken about their affection for the city and the support they have received from local people. In just four years, the business has grown from a single York café into a collection of venues across Yorkshire. Throughout it all, there is still something of the original Bootham café about the business and the communities it creates.
