A new café offering arts and crafts sessions, poetry evenings and live music is set to open its doors in Neath town centre later this month. Hybrid Arts Cafe fills an empty unit previously occupied by the renowned Plaza cafe, which was run by the same family from its launch in the 1930s until its closure in 2011 and was particularly popular with local people wanting to catch up and relax with friends and family over a cup of coffee while sitting in the sun.
The new "arts café" is the brainchild of an early years primary school teacher with a "life time passion" for creating music, poetry and art - and a desire to give people in the community the chance to engage with the arts and showcase their own creativity.
Paula Griffiths, 45, wants her café to be an inclusive, family-friendly space where people of all ages can come and relax in a welcoming environment. Her plans for the new business include running pottery workshops for children on Saturdays and hosting regular poetry evenings and live music events.
