Staff and volunteers at the Llanelli Goods Shed were delighted to welcome Llanelli Town Mayor Cllr Nick Pearce to perform the official opening of their latest venture, the community café.
The café is the most recent development in the community project which has already seen the office section of the former railway goods shed in Marsh Street, Llanelli renovated to provide eight rooms for community use.
The café, which is situated on the platform inside the main Goods Shed is painted in the former Great Western Railway colours cream and brown, as you would have seen on station premises years ago, and the seating area is surrounded by display boards depicting the industrial history of Llanelli and the shed. Grants and donations to build and equip the café were kindly provided by National Lottery’s Awards for All Fund, the Moondance Foundation, Asda Foundation, Community Changemakers Fund, GWR Community Fund, Carmarthenshire County Council and Welsh Government as well as our suppliers Castell Howell, Tea Traders and Teifi Coffee.
The staff and volunteers running the café have recently benefitted from taking part in a Cook 24 intensive cookery course, provided by Coleg Sir Gar, and guests at the opening were treated to the chutney, raspberry jam and scones that they had made on the course.
Before proceeding to cut the ribbon, the Mayor explained, “It was being here some years ago, discussing the potential of the Goods Shed to provide leisure, educational and social opportunities for local residents that reignited my own enthusiasm for community involvement, leading to amongst others things, me becoming a town councillor and then Mayor. It is great to see the place thriving and I wish you every success for the future.”
Responding to the Mayor, Llanelli MP Dame Nia Griffith who has chaired the Goods Shed Trust since it was set up some years ago, said, “A huge thank you to all who have contributed to the construction and preparation of the café, and congratulations to our staff and volunteers on achieving the top food hygiene rating of a 5. It is great to see so many different groups from young to not so young using the Goods Shed, and our next steps include extending our facilities by bringing the two carriage train inside and building pods where groups can meet, as well work to enhance the grounds outside.“
Initially the Good Shed café will open from 10 am to 2 pm for drinks and snacks on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday as well as the third Saturday every month 10 am to 12.30 pm when they hold a Repair Café session with electrical, mechanical and sewing expertise available to help you repair small items.
