New for 2023 – the café at the Beehive Community & Arts venue in Dowell St, Honiton will open on Monday, 9th January, and from that point onwards, on Mondays to Fridays, from 10.30am -3.30pm, and on Saturday 9.30am to 1pm.

It will provide a range of coffees and other hot beverages, pizzas, sandwiches, homemade cake, soup and daily specials. The range of products will be extended as the business grows.

A spokesperson for the charity that runs the Beehive said, "Since its inception, the Beehive has had a café /bar, which is used before and during events at the venue, but it has been underutilised during the day. We're looking forward to changing that this year. The café bar at the Beehive is a lovely, airy space with good facilities, including parking."

The café will initially be staffed by volunteers, including two of the Trustees, one of whom has extensive experience of running catering outlets, and if the project proves successful, experienced paid staff will be recruited further down the line.

Due to issues following the Covid pandemic the charity that runs the Beehive has been supported financially by Honiton Town Council since March 2022, but that arrangement is due to end after 12 months. The charity has therefore produced a new business plan which they hope will enable them to cut their reliance on the Council's support and to break even. As part of their plan to return to financial independence, the Board of Trustees realised this opening the café for general use was a good opportunity to provide an enhanced service to the public and to all those people who use the Beehive during the day.

You are invited to give the new service a try and to tell your friends.