Running Late is the new East London coffee shop everyone’s talking about. Founded by Tom and Sean, their mission is simple: to create the smoothest takeaway coffee experience possible.
Today, we spoke with Tom, one of the founders of Running Late and a former Ozone Coffee team member, who has seen plenty of cafés open their doors.
"It’s been my dream for as long as I can remember to open a little coffee shop."
What was your role at Ozone?
"I used to work over at Ozone as the Business Development Manager. So I pretty much had this awesome opportunity to witness loads of cafés opening up. I saw it happen many times over, and I think what taught me the most was seeing what worked and what didn’t. I’ve tried to take all of those lessons and put them into Running Late. It was always a massive privilege to go on that whole journey and witness it, but what I’ve realised is—you never truly understand it until you do it yourself."
Were you nervous?
"On our first day, we opened at 7am, and I was so nervous no one would show up. Thankfully, people did! We did 50% off on the opening week and tried a few different things to see what worked."
What excites you most?
"I’m most excited about the local community. When I was doing the renovations, so many people popped their heads in just to say hi. Meeting everyone and feeling that support has been amazing. Building a community around the shop is what excites me the most. We’ve got a run club, a walk club—it’s all about creating that sense of connection."
Having seen so many cafés open, what’s one key piece of advice?
"I’d say stick to the basics and do them really, really well. If you’re good at one thing, bring in people who can handle the other stuff—let them shine in their areas. Personally, I love making coffee and drinks, so I want to focus on that. At the same time, I also want to champion independent bakers because that’s what they’re great at."
"Right now, it’s just me, Sean, and Alex. We want to build this shop around the community."
Swing by for a smooth flat white and a warm welcome—because Running Late is part of your daily rhythm. With its minimalist aesthetic—white walls with pops of red—it’s a space designed for people to gather, connect, and enjoy quality coffee. Brewing Ozone Hodson Blend, which features a sweet base of brown sugar and milk chocolate and soft red fruit notes for a balanced yet characterful cup. Whether you’re grabbing a quick takeaway or settling in for a chat, it’s all about community, craft, and making every cup special.
Address: 249b Mare St, London E8 3NS
Social Media: @runninglatecoffee