A Lancaster community centre has opened a full-time cafe bar thanks to a huge response from the public.
Charles Tyrer, chief executive of the Gregson Centre, said that the local community has been instrumental in helping the Moor Lane venue recover from being closed during lockdown when it was "touch and go" whether it would ever reopen.
A recent appeal for help from volunteers to run a cafe bar at the community centre, led to a fantastic response.
Such was the level of support, from today (March 13) the cafe bar is open, seven days a week from 11am to 11pm.
Charles said this means the Gregson is getting back to its best after being shut during the Covid-19 pandemic.
LISTEN to our interview with Charles Tyrer from the Gregson Centre
"It's been quite a journey since lockdown to get the Gregson back up and running," said Charles.
"We're now at the point that we have 40 regular community groups using the spaces.
"The bar has been really really successful and now this next step, opening the cafe bar in the daytime, hopefully will see a return to the Gregson that people loved pre-lockdown.
"It was touch and go with the Gregson. Community spaces up and down the country have struggled and we've seen a lot of closures of buildings like this.
"There are very few places like this that exist in the country. It's a proper community hub.
"Around 70-odd volunteers helped with the refurbishment of the Gregson to get it back up and running. The community has been fantastic."
While the building itself dates back to 1889, this year marks the 40th birthday of the Gregson Community Association, the charity that runs the centre.
The Gregson hosts all kinds of activities including Tai Chi, adult acting classes, salsa dancing, community choirs, live jazz and folk music, a parent and child support group, youth clubs and a 'secret cinema' upstairs showing films; and is keen to welcome more groups to use its spaces.
Please contact the Gregson if you are interested.
Related Story: Volunteers sought to help run Lancaster arts and community centre - Beyond Radio
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