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Hidden Gem Cafe opens in Thatcham care home




A new community café is open for business in Thatcham.

The Hidden Gem Cafe opened in Alice Bye Court care home, in Bluecoats, last Monday (July 8).

Tea, coffee and homemade cakes are all on offer
Tea, coffee and homemade cakes are all on offer

And the face behind the enterprise is Natacha Parker.

Newburytoday spoke to Miss Parker about her new venture, breaking stereotypes and her plans to integrate into the community once business is established.

“We’re primarily here for the residents,” she said. “We’ve got 52 flats and they’ve had nothing for eight months here.

“But we’re open to the outside as well.

Natacha Parker is the face behind the new café in Thatcham
Natacha Parker is the face behind the new café in Thatcham

“It’s about making people aware it’s a community hub where everyone is welcome.

“We want to break away from the ‘it’s in a care home’ stigma.”

Miss Parker moved to Newbury a couple of years ago and has previously worked in the hospitality sector.

She recently helped to set up the Waterside Café at The Waterside Centre in Newbury, and has supplied cakes to McCann's Coffee Shop in The Kennet Centre.

The Hidden Gem Cafe opens in Alice Bye Court care home
The Hidden Gem Cafe opens in Alice Bye Court care home

Speaking more about why she chose to start Hidden Gem, Miss Parker continued: “I wanted to make it different to a normal high street chain.

“I’ve tried to use a lot of local suppliers and produce to create nutritious homemade meals.

“The opportunity came to lease here and I thought I’d jump in at the deep end and do it.

“When I moved in it was a very blank canvas. Each day we’re trying to add bits to it.”

And she says speaking to the residents has been one of the most enjoyable parts of her new venture so far.

Natacha Parker opened the new café last Monday
Natacha Parker opened the new café last Monday

“There’s John in the corner who comes in at lunch,” she added. “He’s 103 and it’s amazing the life experiences he tells us.

“It’s important to take time out of our day to talk with the residents.

“For some of them, we are their family. Within a week, we bond and spend hours chatting.

“Some come in three times a day.”

Miss Parker currently runs the café independently, but is keen to recruit local staff.

The café is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm, serving all-day brunch, cakes and hot and cold drinks.

It is also available to cater for birthdays, special occasions and other events.



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