our story

nue | ground strives to be at the forefront of cafes contributing to a more sustainable food future, where ‘health’ – including our bodies, minds, communities and environment – is at the heart of what we do.

it was founded by Joanna & Jayke Mangion who are already known for much loved South London venues such as the award-winning Brickwood, WC and Old Town Tavern.

“Whilst this vision emerges out of my background in fitness and hospitality (having worked for industry leaders like SoHo house group, first restaurant group, eight members clubs), it also has its roots in my childhood. Growing up in a household where everything was homemade and homegrown, gave me an early appreciation for the importance of knowing where our food comes from and whose hands it has passed through along the way.

My mother was passionate about natural health and medicine and I was brought up eating nutritious meals, making natural remedies and fermenting food, long before they became popular. This has always been a way of life for me, so naturally it felt important to incorporate this ethos into my household and nue | ground, in a way that is approachable and true to its roots, rather than simply following a trend.

My interest led me to develop knowledge in naturopathy and pursue diplomas in fitness and personal training, which have allowed me to share knowledge with people within my community. Sharing knowledge – just like sharing food – brings us together, and I love being able to help people along in their personal health journeys. I have been developing and sharing new healthy recipes for several years, supporting people wanting to build healthier lives at home, but also whilst out and about. It felt like the perfect time to open a café that could provide this – and so much more – to the community.”

Joanna Mangion

sustainably focused

we are proud to be a part of the ‘Sustainable Restaurant Association’, working with local businesses and industry leaders to create our cafe spaces in accordance with our values. From the handmade tiles, reclaimed concrete, Good and Mojo sustainable bamboo lights and repurposed chairs, to the 100% bamboo Smartass toilet paper and refillable cleaning products you’ll find in our bathrooms - everything has been carefully considered.

we work together with our customers to make a difference and we see it as our responsibility to do what we can to make doing the right thing even easier. this includes encouraging everyone to reuse and refill their water bottles (and soon we will offer refillable kombucha!) and bring reusable cups (offering 25p off drinks when they do!). we offer disposable packaging by DECENT which is made entirely from plant materials and is fully compostable. 100% of our water sales goes towards water projects around the world and our takeaway water bottles are made from sugar cane, not plastic.

we have also teamed up with the app “Too Good To Go” where any unsold items will be reduced by 50% at the end of the day, so nothing goes to waste and members of the community can access fresh healthy food for less.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

community is at the heart of who we are and what we do at nue | ground. it was our dream to open a café focused on our own local community, and in turn, help build community. the Magic Stamp app is one way that we reward our regular customers - but what we really hope keeps them returning is the knowledge that our baristas know exactly how they like their coffee, remembering these important details for their next visit.

throughout the week, we experience a flow of different people moving through our spaces – mums returning from the school run, freelancers and entrepreneurs thriving off our bustling and creative working environment, older couples coming in for tea and cake, local runners and cyclists seeking a healthy and delicious meal to refuel after a hard workout, and kids bouncing in at the end of the day to enjoy a well-deserved after-school treat.

we run a selection of curated monthly events, many of which are free, including wellness workshops, networking, fitness sessions & more.

workshops + events >