Key facts
- The Coffee Studio, an independent cafe with two London locations, is in a legal dispute over its 'Eat Drink Work' slogan.
- Mitchells & Butlers, a major UK hospitality group, has opposed the slogan's registration.
- Mitchells & Butlers claims the slogan is too similar to its existing 'Eat Drink Meet' trademark.
- The Coffee Studio owner, Tahir Mehmet, is fighting the challenge, citing the significant resource imbalance.
- Lord Sugar has publicly supported small businesses facing intimidation from larger corporations in trademark disputes.
An independent London cafe, The Coffee Studio, is embroiled in a legal battle with hospitality giant Mitchells & Butlers over its slogan 'Eat Drink Work'. The Coffee Studio, which has two branches in Greenwich and Battersea, co-founded in 2024, applied to register the slogan. However, a subsidiary of Mitchells & Butlers, a FTSE 250 company with over 1,800 venues, has opposed the application, arguing that 'Eat Drink Work' is too similar to their existing 'Eat Drink Meet' trademark.
Tahir Mehmet, owner of The Coffee Studio, described the situation as daunting, highlighting the significant disparity in resources between his small business and the large corporation. He expressed determination to fight the case, emphasizing the importance of protecting independent businesses from being intimidated by larger entities. Mehmet stated that the dispute has already impacted merchandise plans, signage, menu reprints, and business expansion due to diverted resources for legal costs.
Lord Sugar, a director at the law firm Trade Mark Wizards representing The Coffee Studio, voiced his support, stating that small businesses should not feel pressured by larger organizations. Oliver Oguz, Managing Director of Trade Mark Wizards, argued that 'Eat Drink Work' uses ordinary English words in an ordinary way and questioned the line between legitimate brand protection and overly aggressive enforcement. Mitchells & Butlers declined to comment on the matter.