A community café has reopened in a new location following a sudden closure earlier this year.

The Olive Tree Café operated inside Manor Garden Centre in Cheney Manor Industrial Estate for years as a safe space for people with mental health struggles to work.

But an unexpected burnout of its drains and pumps in July forced the venue to close and manager Phyllida Richards told the Advertiser that the future of the venue would depend on the landlord fixing the problem.

In a bid to save the café, a fundraiser was set up which raised more than £12,000, but in August the decision to move to Toomer’s Garden Centre in Lydiard Millicent was announced.  

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Now staff are delighted that the café is back open in the new location, ready to serve customers and support volunteers.

The café has reopened in a new location The café has reopened in a new location (Image: Olive Tree Café) Café manager Phyllida Richards said: “Toomers have given us a great welcome and are as excited as we are for Olive Tree to be a success.

"We’re looking forward to meeting the communities around us, as well as customers who visited the cafe at Moredon Garden Centre.

“The management at Moredon Sports Hub are kindly allowing us to use their kitchen to bake cakes and scones in the short term, but we hope to lease a unit where volunteers can increase the supply of baked goods.

“As we’re in a new venue and everyone is getting used to new ways of working, there may be delays in the service we provide.

"Please bear with us and take the opportunity to slow down for a few moments, make connections, and enjoy life’s simple pleasures.

“Someone the other day said to me ‘You’ve got no idea what this place means to Swindon’ and I had this overwhelming feeling. I’m so proud of us, a little charity like us, and we reopened within a month.

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“We’re so thankful for everything everyone has done and the money they have raised.”

A section of the garden centre greenhouse has tables and chairs, a small kitchen has been built for drinks preparation and a horsebox has been converted into a kitchen for light meals and the Olive Tree classic breakfasts.

The café is part of The Recovery Tree Charity – a mental health charity supporting the work of The Olive Tree café and TWIGS therapeutic garden to reduce the stigma around mental illness.

Phyllida added: “The Olive Tree needs to attract more volunteers interested in helping to run the café."

To find out more, call 01793 533 152, email olivetreecafeswindon@gmail.com or fill out the enquiry form on the cafe's website.

It is open from 7am – 3pm seven days a week.

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