Investment from
£21,000
Category
Coffee Franchises
Established
2024
About This Franchise
Dirt Coffee Co is a fast-growing speciality coffee and all-day dining brand launched in 2024 by DMH Brands, founded by serial entrepreneur David Hodgetts (previously co-founder of Triple Two Coffee). Blending speciality coffee, fresh food and an evening cocktail offer, the brand targets lower-overhead locations to deliver a more accessible, profit-focused franchise model in one of the most resilient consumer sectors.
A detailed look at the Dirt Coffee Co Franchise franchise opportunity, what's involved and what makes it stand out.
Dirt Coffee Co is not just another coffee franchise. Founded by David Hodgetts through DMH Brands, Dirt was built on the hard lessons of a previous coffee venture that was sold to a private equity buyer. The result is a concept that deliberately breaks the mould: specialty-grade coffee, handcrafted cocktails and fresh all-day dining under one roof, wrapped in clean, modern design that feels as good in the evening as it does at breakfast.
The brand is young, ambitious and growing fast. With London sites already open and a target of 100 territories across the UK, Dirt Coffee Co is offering franchise partners the chance to enter at the ground level of what it intends to make the country's most sought-after coffee brand.
Most coffee franchises sell coffee and maybe a pastry. Dirt Coffee Co has built something more versatile. The concept operates across three revenue streams - morning coffee, all-day brunch and evening cocktails - which means longer trading hours and more reasons for customers to walk through the door.
Dirt stores are built around a clean, functional aesthetic that feels premium without being pretentious. Combined with proprietary coffee blends sourced through a carbon-neutral supply chain, the brand appeals to consumers who value quality, transparency and sustainability.
Dirt Coffee Co deliberately targets a lower investment model. Founder David Hodgetts has been clear: high street rents and inflated fit-out costs have crippled many coffee operators. Dirt selects locations with lower overheads so franchisees are not suppressed from day one.
| Minimum Investment | From £21,000 |
| Third-Party Financing | Available |
| Location Strategy | Lower-overhead sites |
| Revenue Streams | Coffee + Brunch + Cocktails |
| Part-Time Option | Available |
"We are targeting much lower total investments for our franchise partners, selecting locations that generally incur much lower overheads, so that they are not suppressed by high rents from day one. We learned a lot from our first venture - what works, and more importantly, what doesn't. Dirt is the culmination of that learning, reimagined for today and beyond."
Because the Dirt concept spans coffee, food and cocktails, the training programme is broader than a typical coffee franchise. The brand provides comprehensive onboarding that covers every facet of the operation:
Dirt Coffee Co is in an aggressive expansion phase with a clear roadmap:
The Middle East partnership signals international ambitions and confirms the concept translates across cultures.
Dirt Coffee Co is looking for franchise partners who share its obsession with quality and design. The part-time option also makes it accessible to people who want to test the waters before committing full-time. Prior hospitality experience is helpful but not essential - what matters most is a passion for quality and the commercial ambition to grow.
One of the strengths of the Dirt model is that it is not a single fit-out. The brand has been engineered around three distinct operational formats, so partners can match the concept to the site they can secure rather than chasing a single template across very different high streets.
Dirt Coffee Co is launching into a market that has continued to grow despite cost pressures on operators. The UK branded coffee shop sector reached 12,313 outlets and £6.8 billion in sales over the last twelve months, the fifth consecutive year of outlet growth since the pandemic, according to World Coffee Portal's Project Cafe UK 2026.
The same research identifies a clear polarisation: value-led national chains at one end, premium experience-led brands at the other, with the middle ground losing share. Dirt's design-forward, speciality-grade positioning targets that premium segment, while its lower-overhead site strategy keeps unit economics closer to the value end. The all-day-into-evening trading window is a direct response to weaker daytime footfall on many UK high streets.
David Hodgetts co-founded Triple Two Coffee in 2016 and grew it into a UK franchise chain before the business was acquired by New Zealand-listed Cooks Coffee Company in 2022. After that exit Hodgetts set up DMH Brands as a multi-brand hospitality group, with Dirt Coffee Co as its lead franchise vehicle. DMH Brands also owns Just Tea and Sip Coco, which supply the Dirt estate and give franchisees a wider drinks range than a single-product cafe.
The group recently closed an eight-figure private investment round at a reported £100 million valuation, with investors drawn from entrepreneurs, sports and music. That capital is funding the UK rollout, brand build and central support infrastructure that franchisees plug into.
A typical Cafe Bar site opens at around 7am with espresso and grab-and-go, transitions into a full brunch and lunch menu through the middle of the day, and shifts into cocktails, small plates and an evening crowd from late afternoon. That rhythm spreads labour cost across three distinct dayparts rather than concentrating it in a narrow breakfast window, which is one of the operational issues Hodgetts has cited as a weakness of traditional coffee chains. Grab & Go sites run a tighter daytime-only model with a leaner team.
The brand handles national PR, social media and creative centrally, with template-driven assets pushed out to franchisees for local campaigns. Store design, photography and the Dirt visual identity are intentionally consistent across sites, with the aim of building a recognisable challenger brand rather than a faceless coffee chain. Local marketing is supported with playbooks for opening campaigns, community partnerships and evening-trade promotion.
Request the full franchise prospectus to learn about available territories, the application process and detailed financial information.
Interested in exploring more opportunities in this sector? Take a look at other Coffee franchise opportunities available on Franchise Hunt.
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Cheaper than
56%
£21k
Under £30k
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To find out more about the Dirt Coffee Co Franchise franchise opportunity, simply click below to fill out the form to speak with a representative from the brand.
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The minimum investment for a Dirt Coffee Co Franchise franchise starts from £21,000. This typically covers the franchise fee, training, and initial setup. Additional costs such as premises, equipment, and working capital may apply.
Yes, Dirt Coffee Co Franchise provides training for new franchisees. This typically covers operations, business management, marketing, and ongoing support to help you get started and grow your franchise.
Dirt Coffee Co Franchise offers third party financing options to help prospective franchisees fund their investment. Contact the franchise directly for details on available funding support.
Dirt Coffee Co Franchise was established in 2024. With 2 years of experience, the brand has built a track record in the UK franchise market.
Dirt Coffee Co Franchise currently has 3 franchise outlets operating across the UK, demonstrating network coverage and brand presence.
Dirt Coffee Co Franchise franchise opportunities are available across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Contact the franchisor through the enquiry form to confirm specific territory availability in your area.
