‘Absolutely thriving’ community café receives thousands from The National Lottery

An “absolutely thriving” café ran by volunteers has celebrated a £17,000 cash boost.

The Cuppa Café, based in Lhanbryde Community Centre, received the grant from The National Lottery Community Fund.

Operated by a group of dedicated volunteers, the project offers low-cost meals to all as a way to give back to the community.

The café also hosts The Pantry, which helps local people in difficulty have access to ingredients for home cooking.

Chairwoman Susan Sutherland, who took over in September 2023, said: “We are so, so grateful for the Lottery grant because it is helping us feed more people, vulnerable people.

“It is absolutely fantastic that people from the community are supporting us.

“We have seen customers come from Buckie, Fochabers, Lossiemouth, Burghead and Elgin – there’s always new faces coming in.”

Susan added that the project was all about making a positive difference in the local area.

“I don’t need to be paid to do this job, as long as people are happy, that’s why I’m here,” she said.

The chairwoman also thanked the public for buying the National Lottery tickets which funded for the grant.

The popular café serves lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays, between 12pm and 1.30pm, along with offering soups and sweets for £3. Teas and coffees are also served from 10am to 1.30pm.

And the weekly Friday fish and chips night, taking place between 4.30pm and 6.30pm, has become a ritual for many with its locally-sourced fish suppers for £7.

“All the pensioners who come along are in love with it,” Susan added.

Those coming to the café on a Sunday morning can also enjoy a quality cooked breakfast or breakfast roll.

The chairwoman said all food provided at the café is locally sourced, homemade and freshly prepared, allowing customers to enjoy a low-cost but high-quality meal.

During school holidays, children can eat for free at the Cuppa Café if an adult buys some food – enabling all children to enjoy a hot meal.

To give back to the community, the café will be opened up on Christmas Day this year, serving free meals for up to 100 people and providing vulnerable people with a hot meal and social interaction.

The café has also offered fun days for families, providing face painting, bouncy castles and balloon animals free of charge.

Recently, the volunteers also hosted a low-cost Halloween party for youngsters.

Susan said: “The place was buzzing; you couldn’t move for the amount of people who were in here.”

The chairwoman also thanked those who provided grants that allowed Lhanbryde Community Centre to install solar panels as well as replace its electrical system.

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