Opposite Cambridge Heath station is a small organic shop, called natural spot. I used to go in there all the time as I lived round the corner. Behind the counter was a man named Ali, who spoke very little English. He greeted every customer with a smile. He remembered my friend was vegan, so would slip him medjool dates for free when he’d come to buy stuff. He remembered that I always came to him for a particular yoghurt that he had, so sometimes when he didn’t have it he’d just shake his head as soon as I walked through the door. One time I came with a plant, freshly bought from the flower market, and he smiled a big wide smile, pointed at his chest, pointed at the plant, and told me to name it Ali.

A few weeks ago I went to the store and he was no longer there. But he’d left letters for his customers.

“There is an idiom, a Turkish proverb. Who came from here and who passed from here. Meaning this city saw many people and they left just as I will do soon.”

I’ve thought about this often. It touches on some of the most beautiful aspects of hospitality. If Bram&Sherr has a guiding philosophy it is something like this:

–We believe in hospitality

–We don’t build restaurants or coffeeshops we build dreams that enliven the city. They aren’t just businesses, they are worlds. They are where people bring first dates, where they have hard conversations with their parents , where they sign business deals, or simply where they escape from the rest of their lives for a few moments. They are spaces for love and loss and everything in between.

–These spaces are the city.

–We believe that little details go a long way. Sweat the small. Be generous. Be kind.

–We believe in sustainability not just in our supply chain but also in how we work. We want staff to be supported and grow and earn a fair wage in a competitive and often difficult city.

–We will remember your name.