New eco-friendly coffee shop opens in Byfleet

Date: 

Monday, 7 September, 2020

Residents of Byfleet and beyond are now able to enjoy the benefits of a new coffee shop serving eco-friendly coffee as St Mary’s garden café opened last week.

The new garden café, hosted in St Mary’s Centre for the Community, is open with takeaway available and seating outside from Tuesday to Friday from 8.45am to 4.15pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 3pm.

With a focus on environmental sustainability, the eco-coffee is great quality and value, and served in cups that are 95% recyclable. Over the coming months, totally compostable cups will be introduced. The café comes complete with a trained barista on-site to serve coffee, who also provides specialist training for volunteers who would like to get involved.

The café was part of a three-month refurbishment project working with local community group Fresh Start, with building materials donated by Octagon.

It sports an arts theme and in future will showcase local artists and use the centre space for activities for the whole community. The café has disabled access and the centre will have a dedicated children’s play and learn area.

Cllr Simon Ashall, Portfolio Holder for Centres for the Community, said: “The refurbishment has brought a new lease of life to the centre by creating a new garden and tea room that will be spaces for the community to meet together. While St Mary’s is the host venue, the café’s modern and welcoming environment is open to all residents. 

“I really hope that it will bring people together – with appropriate COVID safety measures for the moment of course – including centre users and residents of Byfleet.

“I would like to thank both Octagon and Fresh Start for their involvement and leadership on this project, which provided training, skills and support to rough sleepers throughout the build.”

Initially the café is open to provide takeaway and outdoor seating only. Indoor seating will be introduced over the coming weeks.

The new garden café is located at St Mary’s Centre for the Community, Stream Close, Byfleet, Surrey KT14 7LZ. To find out more about the café or becoming a volunteer, please contact St Mary’s on 01483 743 877 or email stmarys@woking.gov.uk