Carlisle’s John Watt & Son is celebrating its 160th anniversary this month.
Established in 1865 as a grocer, the coffee roaster and tea merchant was taken over by Peter and Carol Johnston, along with their daughter Naomi, a decade ago.
Peter, managing director, said: “This anniversary is not just about longevity. It’s about the generations of customers, staff, and suppliers who’ve helped shape our story. We’re proud to still be roasting coffee in Carlisle, serving our community, and evolving with the times while honouring our heritage.”
Carol said: “Taking on a business with such history was both a privilege and a responsibility.
“We’ve worked hard to honour its legacy while making sure it continues to thrive in a modern world. It’s been a decade of learning, laughter, and a lot of coffee!”
The brand’s 2017 expansion introduced a dedicated roastery on Blackfriars Street, purpose-built for large-scale wholesale roasting and supply.
It has operating the café at the Cumbria Museum of Military Life since 2017 and took on the Cakes & Ale café from 2022.
It has also expanded into contract catering, including at Penrith Golf Club launched late last year.
Its partnership with Carlisle United Football Club has been especially impactful, the Johnstons said – from a bespoke coffee blend and on-site catering to the revival of the beloved Brunton pasty and 2025 kit sponsorship. The business has also played a key role in expanding the club’s hospitality offerings under the stewardship of the Piatak family.
To mark the anniversary, there will be a number of activities happening this month and two special anniversary blends have been launched.
Named after the original home of John Watt & Son, coffee blend Glovers Row is a nod to 1865, when Carlisle’s Glovers Row bustled with craftspeople, merchants, and makers. It was here, in the heart of a community rooted in skill and tradition, that their first blends were born.
The commemorative tea blend shares a tale that has crossed the Atlantic. While many remember the White Star Line’s most famous ship the Titanic, the anniversary tea blend honours a lesser-known voyage.
Aboard a White Star Line steamer, a seasick passenger said that she would “be all right if I only had a cup of good tea”. A fellow traveller, travelling to New York with a half chest of John Watt’s finest, obliged – and the rest of the voyage was smooth sailing.
It has inspired the blend A Good Cup of Tea.
