The Garden Café at Hepscott Park is open for business once more and has a warm welcome waiting for all its customers. 

 

The Café, which is part of Northumberland County Council’s Hepscott Park Horticultural Skills Unit for people with disabilities, offers a wide range of home cooked food to eat in or take away.  

 

The menus change regularly to reflect seasonal ingredients, most of which come straight from the Unit’s gardens, or are grown or sourced locally. 

 

The café also offers a range of crafts, including jewellery, prints and kitchen and garden goods, made by Northumbrian crafts-people and artisans. 

 

The café is open Tuesday to Friday from 9.30am to 3pm, and Saturdays from 9.30am to 3.30pm. 

 

Manager Clive Moon said: “The Garden Cafe had to close in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Cafe staff have been working hard over the last couple of months to prepare the Cafe for re-opening.  

 

“We are enjoying welcoming all our customers back and would like to thank them for their patience and understanding. 

 

“There will be a simplified menu to begin with, and some temporary changes to our opening hours. The Cafe will be closed on Sundays and Mondays and will open half an hour later and close half an hour earlier to give time for thorough sanitising.” 

 

Northumberland County Council’s Horticultural Skills Unit offer people who have disabilities a safe, relaxing environment in which to work, make friends, enjoy themselves and be themselves without discrimination.  

 

The Council also runs a number of day services across the county, helping more than 170 adults with learning disabilities to acquire new skills. These include learning to grow plants, make jewellery, ceramics, cakes and reclaim/sell old furniture. Products are marketed as ‘Made in Northumberland’, with any money made reinvested in this service. 
 
County Councillor Wendy Pattison, “Our centres provide vulnerable adults with a great opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people and develop confidence and self-esteem while preparing them for future employment or voluntary work.  

 

“Wherever possible, activities are delivered in the local community, making it easier for people to attend on a regular basis. 

 

“Our aim is to maximise each person’s individual potential and to enhance their quality of life.” 

 

To find out more about the Garden Café at Hepscott Park and view the menus please click here. 

 

Click here to find out more about the support available for disabled adults in Northumberland.