The George pub opens new community café

The George in Bethersden, Kent, has opened a new community café to help bring local people together, creating new ways for them to connect and bringing new meaning to the phrase ‘popping to the local’.

The George Café, which launched a month after the pub reopened as a community enterprise, provides an opportunity for people living alone, mothers and toddlers, families, and groups to meet and socialise.

The café was opened with the expert help and a Community Services Fund grant from Pub is The Hub, the not-for-profit organisation that helps pubs to diversify and provide essential local services.

A selection of games and puzzles is available for children to play with and the new café features a secure garden area with outdoor games and a terrace.

The pub has also installed Wi-Fi, encouraging local residents to work from the café.

Additionally, The George Café also supports local suppliers including Bloss coffee and Pluckley tea, with delicious cakes provided by some of Bethersden’s home bakers.

An initiative to support local artists is also being launched, giving them wall space to display pieces which are also for sale.

The pub said that there are plans to extend its trading hours later in the year but it currently opens Wednesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm.

Michele Sadler, community officer for The George, said: “The café has been a great success at bringing new customers into the pub as well as reconnecting the village as a whole, and helping people locally to overcome loneliness and isolation. There is a warm welcome for everyone at The George Café.”