What is patch?
Patch is a new vegetarian plant-led café in the heart of Colchester, opened in September 2022, with an emphasis where possible on locally-grown, seasonal produce from small independent producers and from our very own patch! Located in HAT Projects on Trinity Street, we would like to welcome you to a friendly, laid-back environment where food and ingredients speak for themselves.
Our patch. We are proud Colcestrians. Previously, as one half of grain, Jordan brought small plate dining to our local patch, and we want to continue to nurture our patch and deliver high quality seasonal food, now in a relaxed, café environment.
The patch. We have a vegetable patch at Garr House Farm, a working farm in Great Wigborough. We grow produce which will feature in our seasonal lunch plates and hope to create a resourceful kitchen garden, ensuring that every step of the way we are environmentally conscious with minimal waste.
To patch. patch also speaks to our ethos; with high quality food at the heart of what we do, we are a café with a make do and mend attitude. We will work with local suppliers, minimise single-use waste, and make the most of the resources we have around us.
Patch isn’t just a café; evening events are an important part of our identity. We are keen to explore the collaboration of creativity in food and art and create exciting and vibrant evenings of new pairings and experiences. Check out our events page for upcoming evenings including supper clubs, tasting menus, wine evenings, live lounge music, poetry slams, spoken word and visiting authors.
Who is patch?
Jordan Sidwell (Sid) co-owned award-winning Bib Gourmand grain from July 2016 to October 2020. grain also featured in the Good Food Guide and The Sunday Telegraph. Sid is looking forward to showcasing homegrown produce - from the patch to your plate! With a new found respect for the hard work, perseverance and nurturing required to grow your own produce, Sid will use his years of experience in hospitality to stretch what is possible in terms of being a sustainable and environmentally conscious small business - use good quality, local suppliers, use only seasonal produce and make sure of minimal waste at every opportunity.
Jenna Saiz-Abo Henriksen has worked in hospitality for sixteen years and cares deeply about providing exceptional customer service. She also performs as a singer, performing with London-based vintage trio, The Femmes, The Christmas Carol Experience, A & J Voice and Keys and Colchester based covers band JAMJAR.
Our suppliers
We’re passionate about working with other local, independent businesses who share our values.
Sipp'd, based in Stapleford Abbots, supply us with their small batch Essex Apple juice.
Barn Farm Drinks, situated on the Essex and Suffolk border overlooking the River Stour, supply our orange juice. They generate their own electricity from fruit press waste and 23 acres of solar panels on the farm.
Mac 'n' Me supply our delicious ethically-sourced coffee from their specialist roastery in Writtle, near Chelmsford.
Nordisk Tea, based in Colchester, supply our loose-leaf hand picked teas.
Leigh-on-Sea Brewery supply us with their award winning traditional ales and craft beers in their brewery and taproom in Southend.
MOMA, based in Deptford in South London, supply our barista oat drink.
Tiptree Jams have been making conserves from their estate in North Essex since 1885, and supply our jams, ketchup and marmalade.
Marriages Flour based in Chelmsford, Essex, supply the flour for our house-made sourdough.
New Hall Wine is a family owned, third-generation run ‘grape to bottle’ vineyard near Chelsmford, Essex, who supply us with local wines.
Mr Wheeler, long standing Colchester-based wine merchant, carefully curate and supply our wines from further afield.
Anglian Produce, based in Lawford, Essex supply us with surplus fruit and veg.