HatHats Coffee Brews New Opportunities for Beacon School Students

Folkestone, UK – 10th October 2025: HatHats, a local favourite within the coffee community has announced a new exciting partnership with the Beacon School and Beacon Plus College to create a first of its kind student experience in Kent. The collaboration will provide Beacon students with work experience and real life skills, all within a supported environment. 

Through the partnership, HatHats will handover it’s Radnor Park store for a regular pop up café, ran by students at the Beacon School and Beacon Plus College. The student’s shop will run under the name of ‘Beacon Beans’. Within the HatHats coffee shop, drinks made by students are set to be at a discounted price for customers whilst providing work experience for the students. HatHats staff will work alongside Beacon students to provide support and expertise.

Ady Young, Executive Head Teacher at The Beacon School has commented: “Work experiences are becoming harder for young people to find, particularly those with additional needs. HatHats have been a great partner to have on board, and this opportunity will be invaluable for the students. The development, safety and wellbeing of the students are at the forefront of this project. Just upstairs above the café area we are building a sensory room that students may go to when they need a break. It’s a fantastic opportunity.” 

Mel Winter, Principal at Beacon Plus SPI College has commented: “We have worked hard over a number of years to embed our learners into the community. Working with HatHats is a huge opportunity to demonstrate how young adults with disabilities and learning needs can be seen for the gifts and talents they can bring to the workforce and local community. This is the next step in bringing our inclusive long term ambition to life.” 

HatHats Founder and serial entrepreneur Louis Hurst said: “We’re thrilled to be working with the Beacon School and the Beacon Plus College. We are aware of the constant struggle for opportunities for young people, I see it all the time as an employer. The work Ady and his team are doing to get young people with additional needs ready for the world of work is really impressive; and I am delighted HatHats can partner with such an amazing organisation. I can’t wait to see how it develops, and I hope it provides confidence to the young people who join us.”

HatHats has announced the closure of its Radnor Park outlet in Folkestone on the 27^th October for up to a month, whilst Folkestone and Hythe Council who own the building carry out renovations to the site to accommodate the students and the Beacon Beans project.

When the Radnor Park site reopens, it will have a larger menu, including the introduction of Ovenstone Pizzas, serving authentic Napoli pizzas with fresh Italian ingredients. Alongside, HatHats will be open 7 days a week, all year round and include the regular Beacon Beans café. Full details of the reopening will be on the HatHats social media channels. 

The partnership looks to provide confidence and life skills of teens from years 7 all the way up to Sixth Formers. The Beacon caters for 460 pupils aged – 3-19 years with Profound, Severe and Complex Needs. The school has brought in new values in 2025: Bravery, Encouraging, Achievement, Curiosity, Opportunity, Nurture; stating ‘We believe these values will empower our students to become responsible, compassionate and successful individuals.’

About The Beacon School

The Beacon School began in 2016 supporting students with Profound, Severe and Complex Needs. After the merge of the Federation of Foxwood and Highview School, the bases of the 2 outstanding schools were used to create The Beacon as it is now known. It is now one of the four largest Multi Agency Support Hubs in Kent working in partnership with the NHS and specialists alike to cater for the children in their care.

About HatHats Coffee 

HatHats Coffee is Kent’s fastest growing coffee chain located in South East Kent. Known for its ‘Good cup of coffee’ initiative and work in the coffee growing developing world with its work with the HatHats Foundation. It has become a destination for coffee and a pillar in the communities it serves.