Reggae, friendly-faces, free food and a place where you can meet a friend is what you’ll find at the Good Grub Social Cafe. The ‘safe environment’ loved by people on the Brewster Estate in St Ann’s has people leaving with a smile on their faces.
Single people, families, friends and neighbours have been gathering at the cafe at the Hill View Community Centre on Ransom Road since November 2022. Funded by the Nottingham City Council Household Support Fund, staff from Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing Association have created something special for people in the community and not just their residents.
Staff, volunteers and people that use the cafe have spoken out about the chatty, fun and positive atmosphere that takes place every Thursday between 5pm and 7pm. Rohey Bah is a sales assistant currently living in St Ann’s and is a Metropolitan Thames Valley resident.
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Enjoying a hot meal and company on her table, Rohey said: “Here is gorgeous and the food is quality, people come to have a good time, it [the cafe] was a good idea.”
Speaking more about the area she lives in, Rohey continued: “St Ann’s is close to town, people are neighbourly, help each other out and are friendly, when I make food at home, I’ll sometimes give it to my neighbours.”
The Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing Association provides affordable housing for those living in the East Midlands, London, South East and East of England. The housing association aims to boost employment opportunities for its residents and provides intensive support to those who may need it.
Staff are hoping that the funding for the cafe continues, because household support is due to end in March 2023. One resident, Maria - who wished not to share her surname - lives in St Ann’s. Maria, who currently isn’t working, said: “It's a good, safe environment here. I'm not working at the moment and I live by myself.
“Here, I get to meet people, you get to know who’s your neighbour because I don’t really walk about by myself.”
With a range of different food each week, there are always vegetarian options on the menu too. Katrina Campbell-Coupland, Metropolitan Thames Valley’s regional community coordinator, had the idea to set up the cafe.
She said: “There’s a Wagamama feel here, there’s always someone to eat with or sit next to if you came by yourself. People come and go as they please which is absolutely fine. We have plans to get up a sewing corner and every Thursday has been great.”
Lesley Watson is the regional manager for Metropolitan Thames Valley, she said: “The cafe was set up in response to the cost of living, we provide a warm, hot meal and don’t want people to feel like they’re getting a handout hence the music, eating on proper plates and not paper plates. Children come and play, look at books.”
Lesley continued: “This was about providing meals but so much has grown out of it. People come in at different times, they can take food away if they wish but the cafe has created a really positive environment.”
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