The Dock: New chapter for Belfast's only honesty café
Belfast's only honesty café has slimmed down, but it is still brimming with goodwill and heart.Since 2012, teas and coffees and buns at the Dock Café in the city's Titanic Quarter have been pay-what-you-like and free to those who could not pay.The not-for-profit café, set up as a charity, has attracted a bunch of regulars and weekly groups.But many feared that could all end when commercial rivals Greggs moved in, reducing the café's space by half. The Dock had only ever operated on a so-called "meanwhile lease" until a long-term commercial tenant was found.
BBC News NI went down to see how the new set-up was affecting the café's bread and butter.Dock manager Stephen McIlwaine said the overall feeling was one of positivity."Since reopening, feedback has been overwhelmingly encouraging - the word we hear most is cosy," he said. "It is the beginning of a new chapter".
While admitting the move into a smaller space has been challenging, he said they were happy to see the area develop and thrive."At the heart of The Dock's vision has always been building community - not just among people, but also among local businesses," he said. "Need a sandwich? Grab one from next door and enjoy it at our tables. We seek to complement, not compete with our local partners."
Tess Lunn, who has been volunteering at the Dock for eight years, is loving the new space."It took a wee while to get used to but it's actually working really really well," she said."When you walk in the door it still feels like home."The Dock is a Christian-founded charity and operates on a simple principle: everyone is welcome, and everyone decides what to give. That money is used to pay staff, locally-sourced supplies and energy bills.It has more than 50 regular volunteers every week, who serve tea, coffee and sweet treats to visitors.
Tess said the Dock was a place she would use to feel safe and she decided to offer her services so others could do the same."It's so much more than a coffee shop," she said. "Every one of our volunteers has a story about why they volunteer here – loneliness, depression, domestic abuse – it's a safe space for people."Mental health and disability groups like Men's Shed and a group from Praxis Care assisted living rely on the space for their weekly meet-ups."Even when they were doing the renovations there and it was closed for a few weeks, a lot of the regulars were really sad that it wasn't open," she said."It would be a great loss to the area if it did permanently close because it's not just the regulars. We get homeless in and sometimes this is the only cup of tea or coffee or scone they actually get in the day."
Manager Stephen said the lease arrangement does bring uncertainty. "It limits our ability to invest significantly in the space or plan long-term, despite our proven success," he said.But he remains hopeful for what lies ahead."We've been humbled and encouraged by the generous support of local people and businesses who have stood with us - both practically and financially - to make this move possible," he added.
Thousands of people come to the Titanic Quarter every day - to live, work or visit - and the Dock cafe is right on the waterfront.Richard Henderson, the Titanic Quarter's estate manager, said the new Greggs would be a "great addition" to the area."Titanic Quarters' retailers play a huge role in the local community, fostering a lively and welcoming community space... the decision by Greggs to open a new store at Titanic Quarter is testament to that," he said.In addition to its famous sausage rolls, the new Greggs has also brought new jobs.Engineers Owen and Ian work nearby, and they are happy to see another lunch option in the area.They said it was "somewhere cheap, quick and easy to grab breakfast or lunch".Dock volunteer Melanie McAlister said she had already been next door to remind the new Greggs staff - "if there aren't enough seats, send people our way".
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