Adding features such as a small grocery shop, meal delivery service or workshops are just a few initiatives café owners are offering to encourage customers to visit more frequently and stay longer. From art classes and book clubs to live music events, the café is emerging as an integrated community hub.
The Cabinet Rooms in Winchester, named as one of the UK’s most groundbreaking coffee shops in the Brita Grounds of Innovation Awards, has always been more than just a café since it opened in 2017. It offers free and exclusive use of its event space to locals who run free events for the benefit of the community. The Menopause Café, part of an international initiative, is one such event held at the café and is facilitated by a local menopause coach. Gary Whiter, co-owner says, “We host our own cultural events such as the Secret Underground Film Society where we pick and show films in our downstairs space where people can enjoy a glass of wine and a bag of popcorn.”
What we organise
The Cabinet Rooms runs a comprehensive annual programme of events including book groups, networking, tasting events and festivals. It also organises the city’s annual cocktail festival, as well as supporting city-wide events such as Hampshire Pride. “Our objective was always to become a community hub,” Gary says. “Our events don’t contribute significantly to our bottom line. The benefit is being able to carry out our mission to provide a safe and inclusive space for our community.”
Since it opened, the aim for G!RO café, in Surrey’s Esher high street was to be a destination café for cyclists and a community hub. “We decided on this location as it is on the main route for cyclists from West London to the Surrey Hills,” says owner Jordan Addison. Last year, the team opened a bike repair shop in the high street. Jordan says, “Not many people knew we offered a bike repair service or that we sold bikes, so this has added a significant part to the business. For us it’s about brand awareness and brand values. If we can communicate these in a sincere way it raises our profile, business opportunities and in turn footfall into the café.” In addition, they organise cycle rides for beginners and hold a Bikes and Beers night every Thursday comprising a short gravel or road cycle starting and finishing at the café.
Another popular initiative is to hold repair “cafés”, where customers can take toys, lamps, damaged clothing and textiles to be fixed by skilled volunteers for an optional donation while enjoying a bite to eat and a hot drink. The repair session is held at a regular time every month and visitors sit alongside repairers while they undertake the work so that practical skills are passed on.
How to use your space Efficiently?
With so many different initiatives launching in cafés around the country, why not look at your premises with a fresh pair of eyes and discover new ways to use the space that compliment your existing business? Visit www.repaircafe.org to learn more.
