An unused basement in a popular church in Bridgwater was transformed into a vibrant community café after an award of £71,768 from the Valencia Communities Fund Board of Trustees. What was a dark, rubbish-filled space with damp and drainage problems became the focus of plans that would see the creation of a new coffee bar, focused on mental wellbeing, new kitchen, plus a 1-2-1 counselling room, new glass entrance lobby plus storage space. The building work dealt with damp and drainage as well as unblocking windows to open and light up the rooms.
The work in the basement has completely transformed a disused space with bare brick walls into a bright community cafe. There is a main counter with coffee machines, tables, chairs, imaginative decoration, and a small kitchen to one side. There is also a small prayer room or counselling room with vaulted roof. The cellar is connected to the outside by a flight of stairs or a disabled lift to the inside of the church. The community café looks fantastic and using the old iron pillars in the cellar gives it a unique character.
