Community sets up its own cafe in Allesley

[dutchman]

A community in Coventry has come together to set up its own cafe meeting place.



Residents in Allesley Village have been meeting at a shop premises in Gardenia Drive, off the main Birmingham Road, and have been given the go-ahead to make the cafe permanent.

The newly-created venture set up by three friends has been hailed for providing a much-needed hub for elderly and isolated residents.

The business was approved unanimously at Coventry City Council’s planning committee, despite it being “outside a defined centre” under normal planning guidelines. Championing the new cafe, Coun David Kershaw (Bablake, Lab) said: “This has sprung up from a group of people in the community.

“Allesley Village is a distinct community and the people live comfortably together. People share lots of things and support each other.

“But there is a distinct lack of places where people can meet in the day.

‘‘There are pubs but some people don’t want to meet in that environment. It’s an opportunity for people to meet and care for each other.

“They have shown initiative and planned this themselves for the benefit of the community as a whole. This will add to the community spirit in this important part of Coventry.”

The new business, called The Good Honest Food Company, has a licence to open from 7.30am to 6pm.

Officers said the change of use was supported by the local community, would not lead to parking problems and is in an existing row of three shops.

Those setting up the cafe are being led by Rebecca Clarke, who has worked in catering informally but has decided to take the plunge and front the new business.

“This has been a cafe for the last two year but only with A1 (shop) status,” she said.

“It has been used on a regular basis by the community. The people I feel very strongly about are the isolated elderly people that make up much of the Allesley Village demographic.

“I’m creating a business, employment for me and a couple of other people and providing good nutritional food for the community.”

Letters of support were received from 51 residents who argued it would be a positive addition to what is a residential area. A petition supporting the new cafe also attracted 25 signatures.

Council officers said guidelines on already defined centres or employment areas had been relaxed.

Coun John McNicholas said: “This is exactly the sort of thing we need in the local community. I have nothing but support for this.”

[dutchman]

New cafe opening up in Allesley will provide community hub for isolated residents


Manager Rebecca Clarke

A community cafe is being launched by public spirited residents in Allesley Village today – after the manager ploughed in £20,000 of her own savings to help make it happen.

Villagers have taken over an old shop building to set up the new meeting place in Gardenia Drive, off the main Birmingham Road.

The new venture – called The Good Honest Food Company – aims to use mainly locally-sourced food while providing a community hub for isolated residents.

Villagers had been meeting at the former shop premises before being given the go-ahead to make the cafe permanent last November.

The business was approved unanimously at Coventry City Council’s planning committee, despite it being “outside a defined centre” under normal planning guidelines.

Coun David Kershaw (Bablake, Lab) has been championing the venture and will officially open it at 3.30pm today.

Manager Rebecca Clarke and her family have ploughed in £20,000 of savings to fit out the cafe and the former teacher is determined to make it a success.

The 45-year-old said: “This has been my dream to open this here and now it’s becoming a reality. The place has been stood there (empty) for three years.

“This is about contributing to the local community and giving people the chance to meet up and not be quite so isolated – we can’t wait to get started.”

Rebecca said the building “was just a painted brick shell” before work began to install a kitchen, new toilet, double glazing as well as a new paint job.

There will also be a children’s play area.

The wait to open has been put down to legal wrangling over confirming the lease for the premises which is owned by a private landlord. The new cafe has a licence to open from 7.30am to 6pm.

The cafe aims to use produce from local community schemes and small holdings such as the Canley Food Project and Five Acre Farm at Ryton, as well as nut-free ingredients.

“This was unanimously voted through, which is quite rare in the circumstances,” Rebecca added.

“We have a lot of elderly residents in Allesley Village but there is nowhere really to meet in the village where people can meet and socialise.

“There are a couple of pubs and the hotel but there isn’t a kind of daytime meeting place for people who don’t want to go to the pub.

“We’re hoping to attract the dog walkers from Allesley Park and mums with kids.

“There’s been a lot of interest so far with people stopping by and asking when it’s going to open. We want this meeting place to be a real asset for the village.”