Our Story
The story about
CREED
Grounded by the Sea
The year was 2015. On a biting morning along the Antrim coast, Stuart Hewitt stood looking out over the grey expanse of Belfast Lough. Beside him, the towering stone walls of Carrickfergus Castle stood as a monument to history. Stuart, however, was looking at the future. He and his partner Robyn had a vision that went beyond commercial enterprise. They wanted to build a modern sanctuary where community could thrive over a simple, exceptional cup of coffee.
Launching a new business in a town steeped in centuries of tradition was an uphill battle. In the early days, the couple spent long nights mapping out operations, testing artisan coffee beans, and designing an inviting layout. They ultimately chose a definitive name for their venture: Creed. It represented their core belief in local hospitality, family values, and unwavering quality.
When the doors first unlocked on the Marine Highway, the hospitality industry was notoriously volatile. The initial weeks were a blur of dawn shifts. Stuart managed the high-stakes pressure of business directions, while Robyn focused on perfecting customer care and curating a standout menu. Local residents, initially drawn in by curiosity and the rich aroma of espresso, quickly discovered that Creed was different. It wasn’t just a place to grab a rapid caffeine fix; it was an extension of the town’s living room.
The founders deliberately integrated local culture into their business model. They welcomed walking groups coming off the coastal paths, provided fresh water bowls for local dogs, and championed local charity initiatives like Metal for Life NI. Under Stuart and Robyn’s joint leadership, the café scaled steadily over the next decade. They expanded their food menus to feature signature items like The Beefy Bird and Hot Smashed Avocado, alongside a continuous rotation of locally baked traybakes.
By 2026, marking over eleven years at the helm, the founders had successfully transformed a vacant coastal unit into a regional landmark. On any given afternoon, as the waves crash against the harbour wall outside, Stuart can still be found catching up with regular patrons. The history of Creed isn’t just a story of business growth; it is a testament to how two local entrepreneurs anchored an ancient town together through a shared daily ritual.
Welcome To CREED
Whether you have been walking through our doors on the Marine Highway since our very first morning in 2015, or you are stepping inside today to escape the Belfast Lough breeze for the first time, we are glad you are here.
From the day Stuart and Robyn first opened these doors, our mission has remained exactly the same: to serve the Carrickfergus community with uncompromised specialty coffee, exceptional food, and a warm local welcome.
To our existing regulars—thank you for making Creed the beating heart of your weekly routine, for every chat at the counter, and for being the foundation of everything we have built over the last eleven years.
To our new customers—welcome to the family. Pull up a chair, take in the artwork, and let our team fix you the perfect brew.
Our family history
A Legacy of Celebration
Behind the scenes of their thriving business on the Marine Highway, Stuart and Robyn Hewitt place family life at the very core of who they are. They are the parents of young boys, and their home life is beautifully chaotic, marked by festive family countdowns and quiet moments away from the café hustle. Stuart balances his executive duties as managing director with a strictly disciplined routine, dividing his off-duty time between intensive gym sessions and driving the daily school run. Meanwhile, Robyn steps out of her leadership role at the café to embrace a balanced lifestyle focused on family care and personal downtime.
Founded in 2015
Before the doors ever opened on the Marine Highway, Stuart Hewitt understood the mechanics of a perfect roast. Up until January 2015, he had spent over five years operating as the Technical Director at a major commercial roastery in Lisburn, designing, building, and maintaining continuous production lines that processed hundreds of tonnes of coffee. He knew the precise science of fluid bed convection roasters, roast profiling, and the intricate economics of global bean sourcing.
Yet, the corporate factory floor lacked a human element. Stuart wanted to bridge the gap between heavy industrial expertise and direct community connection. In early 2015, he stepped away from his technical role to build a brand of his own from the ground up: Creed Coffee.
The vision for the Carrickfergus location was entirely counter-cultural for the local high streets at the time. Rather than mimicking a traditional, rustic country tea room, Stuart leaned heavily into his structural roots. He envisioned an aesthetic that was ultra-modern and uncompromised—featuring clean architectural lines, minimalist layouts, and rich tonal greys reminiscent of pioneering specialty coffee bars. To anchor this bold new look, the blank walls of the unit were handed over to the renowned Belfast street artist Visual Waste, who applied custom, edgy graffiti artwork directly onto the surfaces.
By September 2015, the machines were calibrated, the beans were dialled in, and the doors officially swung open. Initial reviews from platforms like PastieBap quickly took notice of the slick, metropolitan standard brought straight to the Antrim coast. The gamble of 2015 was clear: proving that a commuter town outside Belfast didn’t just want instant convenience—it was ready for premium specialty coffee, architectural design, and a dedicated community hub.
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stuart Hewitt
Founder
Robyn Hewitt
Co.Founder
