Five weekends in and how much it has grown!

The simpler things, we put a request out for chairs and tables, and by weekend two we had had some camping chairs donated by Go Outdoors, some garden furniture from a local passer by Jackie, and then a low loader delivery of 24 chairs and 6 tables from a local business who was closing the canteen! 

We have had some lows, working out the logistics of how best to set up a pop up café efficiently, and then there was a break in to the Chapel building. Someone smashed through the boarded up window, broke into the locked cabinet storing the generator, jumped on and broke a table, but didn’t steal anything. This meant we had to remove the generator, which makes logistics on a weekend a bit trickier, but we will not be defeated! Thanks to Paul from cabinz.net for putting some temporary security up! 

We have however had plenty of highs. We had a couple of successes with small grants that will help us to improve security and make the space more usable. Word is spreading amongst cyclists. We had a lovely visit from a cycling shop in Mold, and an offer of a ukulele band from a Wirral cyclist! Social media has helped to spread the word and we have had some encouraging support though local Facebook groups, resulting in regular customers.

We have indeed had some ‘regulars’ who have visited us every week, and the rocky road and lemon drizzle cake have been best sellers, selling out last Saturday. We have had our first volunteers! Lily came over to help set us up, and we have had another couple of offers of help from the locals. Let’s hope we will soon be looking at getting a rota together.

We are together building a great little cafe. We have had our regulars coming along and volunteering their skills and showing their support Anne has planted some lovely flowers that she brought down and is watering them regularly. Janine is offering her craft skills, and we are raising money from hers and other of people’s donations. Adrian was our first ever customer and he has been coming every week to host his support. He has some great ideas about the front porch and stage area. Our cyclist and walking population is growing, even in the recent heat! Rob was very innovative in hammering a lump of ice to fit into his black water bottle to keep him cool on his ride home.

The ideas are coming in about what the building might be used for when it is fully renovated, from a skate park and a shop selling chilli Doritos, to bingo on a Tuesday evening, drama and theatre workshops and a show venue. We are working with the architect to try to get the best use from the space whilst listening to everyone’s ideas. What an exciting journey we’re on. Keep watching this space! We have felt so welcomed by the local community. It feels such a privilege to be part of growing something, I just hope there is enough time and energy to follow up on all of these wonderful ideas. If you want to know more, come down to the chapel to see us!