Volunteer-run cafe toasts switch to a new permanent home
A COMMUNITY cafe run by volunteers has secured itself a new permanent home having started out as a pop-up cafe in 2014.
Toast Love Coffee in Harehills, which is run by 40 volunteers, started out at the CATCH Leeds Youth Centre four years ago.
It has now relocated to a threestory permanent location on Harehills Road.
Leeds-based law firm Blacks Solicitors helped oversee and coordinate the new lease.
Anna Dyson, managing director at Toast Love Coffee, said: “I’m so excited to open the doors of the café at our brand new venue, which is much bigger than the pop-up.
“Since its conception Toast Love Coffee has built up a loyal and dedicated customer and volunteer base, who really believe in what we do.
“The move is very much a result of this growing support network and it’s down to them that we’ve been able to consider it.”
The cafe is a part of ‘The Real Junk Food Project’, creating its menu using food that would have been destined for landfill.
Customers are asked to ‘pay as you feel’, removing financial barriers.
Ms Dyson said: “This new space gives us the opportunity to broaden our offering to the local community in ways that will benefit them.
“This now includes some fantastic event spaces which people can use how they please including English language classes, yoga sessions, NCT groups, and craft sessions.”
The commercial property team at Blacks worked with Ms Dyson to facilitate the lease on the property, which was a former Leeds Building Society branch. Broadley Construction supplied the flooring.