A Lancaster vegan café that closed down earlier this month has reopened its doors under a different direction and name.
The former Herbarium on Great John Street ceased trading a few weeks ago, but reopened over the weekend as a ‘wellness’ pantry and café called The Old Gun Shop.
The building used to be ‘an old gun shop’ before becoming The Herbarium, and now offers an expanded menu which includes vegetarian options as well as vegan.
After a busy opening day on Saturday, a spokesperson for the business said: ‘’ We’re tired but so happy. It was such a joy to see so many smiling faces. Thank you to everyone who popped by to say hello, it really does mean the world to us to be back open.
‘’A huge thank you to our brilliant team too. They worked so hard today and brought such great energy with them. We couldn’t have asked for a better start.’’
Explaining why the business had changed name, they added: ‘’For 42 years the building sold rifles, boots and fishing tackle, and to many Lancastrians, it’s still known as the old gun shop.
"Today, it offers warm drinks, slow food, and jars of the good stuff.
“We kept the name not because we’re nostalgic for the past, but because we believe in reviving spaces and rewriting stories.
"What was once a shop for countryside traditions is now a place to slow down, gather, and nourish.
“Another empty building in the centre is not what Lancaster needs.
‘’The community environment we’ve built here matters too much to let go; and just as pubs once served as the heartbeat of a community, we believe cafés like ours are the next generation of that tradition — a new kind of community space: quieter, softer, and rooted in care.’’
How you can help shape bid for Morecambe to become first UK Town of Culture
Friends of Morecambe venue mark 125th birthday of famous variety star
Support programme to help vulnerable women in Lancaster and Morecambe awarded funding
Lancaster restaurant keeps premises licence despite use of illegal workers and unpaid fines
Person rescued from cliff edge in Heysham
Increased noise and steam as reactors come back online at Heysham power station
Lancaster community centre celebrates £220K Lottery award
LISTEN: Heysham fundraiser tells inspiring story of surviving sudden cardiac arrest
Date and fundraiser announced for return of Lancaster Pride
Beyond Radio 10 for 10: The Big Lancaster Spring Clean
Rapist jailed for attacking vulnerable man in Lancaster
LISTEN: £30K fundraiser for Lancaster community farm closing in on target
Person rescued from vehicle after collision near Carnforth
Firefighters called to chemical spillage on Lancaster industrial estate
MP calls for government debate amid continuing uncertainty over Lancaster day centre
Punk poets, national treasures and returning favourites at Morecambe Poetry Festival
Lancaster district empty homes given new lease of life after years of neglect
Appeal after driver suffers ‘significant’ head injury following Lancaster collision
Lancaster home energy advice group celebrates award success
