About Us

Shrewsbury House has been a Community Centre for over 50 years, with a café at its heart for most of that time. Ten years ago the House nearly closed, but a new Board revived it. Today it hosts more than 50 community groups a week alongside weddings, celebrations, meetings and major events.

The café has had several operators over the years. Despite some really creative and popular periods, none proved sustainable long-term. Eventually the Board faced a difficult choice: close the café or bring it in-house. The Café is the place where House users can meet after their activities for coffee and something to eat. Recognising how central it is to community life the Board chose to bring it in-house. As someone said, "A Community Centre without a café is just a place that rents out rooms." The café puts the community into Community Centre".

Two years ago the café was refreshed and rebranded as The Garden Café, focusing on healthy, good-value food in a welcoming setting, with access to the House’s beautiful gardens in good weather. After a lot of work by the house manager and cafe staff the café finances were stabilised. 

After careful review, the Board decided the café going forward would be more sustainable as a separate but closely linked Community Interest Company (CIC). A CIC is a limited company set up to benefit the community, with profits legally reinvested for public good. This would free up the House Manager from day-to-day responsibility for management of the café and be beneficial for the House's financial structure.

Shrewsbury House Garden Café became a registered CIC on 3 February 2026. The formal handover will take place shortly.

Customers should notice no immediate change. The café will continue working closely with Shrewsbury House, listening to customers and building confidently for the future. Everyone says running a successful café seems easy but is not. But all those involved are excited by the challenge.

February 2026