A community café is going from strength to strength only weeks after opening in Brompton, Northallerton.
The part-time café which opened in the Weavers Pavilion is now serving villagers at least three days a week, Rishi Sunak MP heard during a recent visit.
Mr Sunak had been invited by Barbara Slater, who had the idea for the café, to see it in operation and to meet the volunteers who make it work.
Mrs Slater said the café had initially provided refreshments for players, parents and club supporters attending Brompton Juniors football club training sessions on Saturday mornings.
But it was thought the café could prove popular on other days of the week, particularly at times when parents are picking up children from the adjacent primary school. Now the café is also open on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and during Tuesday evening football training sessions.
Mrs Slater said: “We wanted to provide something of a community hub in the village while also raising money for the Brompton Recreation Group which looks after the pavilion.
“We successfully obtained the relevant planning permission and thanks to a generous donation we were able to equip a meeting a room with tables and chairs.
“Our volunteers have been great and the café is a success but we would love to see more people coming down to see us.”
Mr Sunak had originally agreed to attend the opening ceremony for the café but was ununexpectedly detained by Parliamentary business in Westminster. He said he was pleased to belatedly visit the project.
He described the café as a hugely impressive community effort led by Mrs Slater. He said: “This is a super initiative to bring Brompton together and also support the recreation ground and pavilion.”
Mrs Slater said it was hoped to open the café more often during the summer.
