Customer says community will lose an "asset" when cafe closes (From Haringey Independent)

Customer says he will miss Station House Cafe in Crouch Hill after it closes

12:52pm Thursday 27th September 2012 in News By Emma Innes

A regular customer of Station House Cafe has said how much he will miss the facility after it closes.

Clive Carter, who lives in Hornsey, has visited the Crouch Hill community cafe regularly since it opened two years ago.

He believes that it has become a “community asset” that will be greatly missed by those who use it.

Mr Carter, who is currently unemployed, said: “I value that cafe and I hope that something happens to see it resurrected.

“Its closure will mean the loss of a community asset. It has become like a community hall where a lot of people meet.

“It is a great shame that it is to close. I will miss it and I am sure many other people will as well.”

The cafe, which is in Stroud Green Road, is run by FoodCycle, a charity which uses surplus food from supermarkets to provide cheap meals.

It opened in August 2010 and has been entirely run by volunteers but will open its doors for the last time tomorrow due to a lack of funding.

Steven Hawkes, communications and fundraising officer for the FoodCycle, said: “As a result of the difficult economic times that are being felt especially hard by local community groups and charities, we are unfortunately finding that we can no longer run the cafe on its current model.

“It is a real shame and it will be really missed but the lack of funding for positive social activities and rising operational costs means that we are no longer able to sustain the operations at the cafe going into 2013.”

Mr Carter remains hopeful that the cafe will eventually reopen but believes there need to be two major changes to make it successful.

He believes that better marketing would be required as the location of the cafe is quite hidden meaning that the only customers were those who knew where to find it.

Mr Carter also believes that the price of meals needs to be reconsidered.

Station House Cafe has been operating a pay-what-you-feel system but Mr Carter believes this was not a satisfactory option.

He said: “I always feel guilty however much I pay. I think this system makes people feel a bit uncomfortable.

“It would be better if the prices were fixed.”