Social life is key after lockdown

I can understand Ray Goddard’s disappointment that the popular Cloisters Café remains closed (Opinion, April 29).

If the café doesn’t reopen it will be a huge loss for the city.

As restrictions are starting to lift, the access to the café gardens from Canon Lane would make it possible to reopen now so, for the time being, customers wouldn’t need to enter the building.

Later on when the cathedral tours begin again the visitors will expect to be able to eat within the confines of the cathedral.

As a volunteer I am one of the cathedral stewards and, like several others, I live outside the city. I used to enjoy meeting up with my friends after the services to lunch together.

The café was always crowded, as it was in the week, and many of these people were not church goers. We made friends with some of them and it often gave them an insight into what else took place in connection with the cathedral, like the concerts, or becoming members if the Cathedral Friends, whose committee arrange lots of interesting activities. These include talks, holidays and days out etc.

If the café was losing money, was it because the prices charged weren’t correct?

An invitation could be given to someone who would be keen to take it on as an outside franchise and sort out how it could work.

Perhaps the original shop could be turned into a coffee shop. The café is so important to the cathedral and the city that no idea should be dismissed without consideration.

The cathedral meets the spiritual needs but a social life is also very necessary, especially after months of lockdown.

DAPHNE RICHARDS Barncroft Way

Bedhampton