A community eco-café has reopened at the new Zink HQ in Buxton, after having to close because of coronavirus. 

The community eco-café originally opened in 2017 with the intention of reducing food waste, preventing isolation and providing work experience.

National charity Fareshare provides ingredients that are surplus in the supply chain but still in date - it could be that a supermarket over ordered, a supplier over produced or just that the label is wonky.

Zink pay a subscription to Fareshare for a weekly delivery and the food is cooked by trained volunteers managed by a qualified member of Zink’s staff.  

The eco-café is now open more regularly and for longer, and everyone is welcome. 

Zink offer a discount scheme for people on benefits to make the community eco-café affordable for all and it’s free for recipients of emergency parcels from High Peak Foodbank, another service operated by Zink.

Anyone who eats in the café can choose to ‘Pay it Forward’. This is scheme that allows you to pay extra to cover the cost of a meal for a person who can’t afford it. 

Paul Bohan, CEO at Zink, explained: “The community eco-café was really popular with people form all walks of life. It brought everyone together to share good food and good company; for some it was the only contact with another human they had all week. After nearly two years of isolation the café will be a place where people can reconnect and enjoy a very good value meal.” 

Charlotte Hallam, head cook, said: “We’re really excited to be opening the café and look forward to welcoming original and new clients. For me, the challenge is working out what to cook with the ingredients we get each week but that’s what makes it more exciting than working in a normal kitchen!” 

To start, the café is open for breakfast from 10am until 1pm Tuesdays and Wednesdays, then on Fridays for a two course meal from 12-2pm and 3.30-5.30pm.

More opening times will be announced on Zink’s website (www.zink.org.uk) and Facebook page.

Zink HQ is located on Market Street Car Park at the top of Clough Street in Buxton. The postcode is SK17 6LJ. 

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