Over 20 businesses including restaurants, cafés and coffee shops have already joined the Refill scheme, which is being rolled out across Wolverhampton by water company Severn Trent and founding organisation, City to Sea.
The initiative, supported by the City of Wolverhampton Council and Wolverhampton Business Improvement District (BID), aims to promote free tap water, helping keep people hydrated as well as bringing environmental benefits by reducing the use of plastic bottles.
Nutmeg, Mothers Pantry, Ks Tea Cakes, Brunch, Ocean Fish Restaurant, Wheatsheaf, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Civic Centre, Bodrum Delight, Lych Gate Tavern, Aromas de Portugal, St Peter’s House, The Goose, The Gold and Black Café, Zuri Coffee and The Hungry Bistro have already signed up to the scheme.
They have been joined by Harvy’s Spice, Thirstea, Bethany’s Café, Wrap Chic, Central Café, Madame Clarke’s Tearooms, Duke of York, WCityStop and The Moon Under Water as well as Costa Coffee branches at Debenhams, the Mander Centre and Pipers Row, and Starbucks on Dudley Street and at the University of Wolverhampton.
Away from the city centre, a number of businesses have also signed up, including Love and Peas at Gatis Community Space, Costa Coffee at Bentley Bridge, The Tiger in Wednesfield and Beefeater at Moseley Park.
Councillor John Reynolds, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: “We’re delighted that so many businesses, cafés and restaurants have already shown their support for the Refill scheme by signing up and enabling people to top up their water bottles for free.
"We've had a great response from city centre businesses, and we are now hoping that more restaurants, cafes and coffee shops in other parts of Wolverhampton, Tettenhall, Bilston and Wednesfield will follow suit so that, wherever you are in Wolverhampton, you know that you will never be very far from a Refill point."
To sign up, businesses simply need to download the Refill app from the AppStore or Google Play and add themselves as a Refill point.
Severn Trent’s Jess Fidler said: “Businesses which have signed up are now proudly displaying their Refill window stickers and are also appearing on the Refill app where people can find any Refill Station in Wolverhampton or across the UK.”
Councillor Hazel Malcolm, the council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, added: "Keeping yourself hydrated at all times is very important for good physical and mental health; water helps muscles and joints work better, keeps your body cool, promotes good cardiovascular health, and cleanses your body inside and out.
"At the same time, the Refill scheme will help protect the environment by reducing plastic waste and rubbish in Wolverhampton. As a council we are supporting the initiative by offering a Refill station at the WV Café at the Civic Centre, and we hope that, as the scheme grows, even more businesses will sign up.”
For more information, please visit Find water on the go.
