4 days ago
'It's rewarding' - The Westcliff café working hard to keep sense of community alive
IN a time of rising prices, struggling high streets and increasing social isolation, one Westcliff café is working hard to keep a sense of community alive.
For the past three years, KB Café has been offering affordable food, activities and a friendly atmosphere from Age Concern's Haven Community Hub on Hamlet Court Road.
Manager, James Wilsher, has said that while business is going well, he would like to see more residents taking advantage of the much-loved space.
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Satisfaction - James is passionate about the work he does (Image: James Wilshire)
'Community cafés are a bit of a dying breed, but we've managed to keep going as an alternative to the area's many coffee shops and restaurants,' said James.
'It's really all about trying to run this place for the community – we're not just the biggest café in Westcliff but are also a lot more welcoming and less sterile than the high street names.'
The café is based inside the Haven Community Hub, a beloved feature of Hamlet Court Road that is currently operated by Age Concern Southend.
Community - A range of activities and events take place at the cafe every week (Image: James Wilshire) For James, KB Café's unique location plays a large part in the business's survival, offering a pleasant place for residents to meet and relax.
'Because we rent the space from Age Concern, the average customer tends to be a bit older, but we're seeing more young people popping in which is great,' he said.
'I think that in an area like Westcliff, where there can be a bit of a negative reputation, it's great to have somewhere that feels safe, relaxed and friendly to spend some time.
'The Haven building has a legacy of its own and it's really nice to have a home with a lot of history.'
Value - James says the café serves good food at affordable prices (Image: James Wilshire) Having run various restaurants and bars over the past three decades, including The Peterboat in Old Leigh, KB Café has given James a new sense of satisfaction.
'I've been doing hospitality for 30 years and have managed loads of different places, but this work is much more rewarding,' he said.
'We get to interact with the customers and quite often they're coming in for a sense of connection as much as anything else.'
James added: 'I'd love to see more people stopping by because we certainly have the space and offer something for everyone.
'It's less about what we can get from our customers and more about what we can give them.'
