Cherry Branch café in Cherry Hinton scales back operations
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 31 Oct, 12:30 · Archive
Cherry Branch café in Cherry Hinton has reduced its hours after being warned it would run out of money without major changes.
The Cherry Branch café in Cherry Hinton, the village's only café, has reduced its hours after being warned it would 'run out of money' without major changes. The café is operated by the Cherry Hinton Community Benefit Society, a charity that rents the kitchen, café and meeting rooms from Cambridge City Council, which owns the building alongside the library.
The group faced significant financial difficulties in its first year. They were required to pay a £32,000 annual facilities management charge covering building maintenance such as cleaning, gardening and repairs. This arrangement prevented them from hiring their own contractors. Additionally, the council required them to hire a catering manager as a contractor rather than an employee, which was more expensive but gave the council an easier exit if the lease ended.
Kate Jones, a trustee, said: 'That contract meant we were paying a lot of money as a small charity, bearing in mind this is our first year.' The group has ended the catering manager's contract to reduce costs. Cambridge City Council has frozen the facilities management charge until March 2027 as a relief measure.
How it is being reported
- Village’s only café scales back hoursThe Cherry Branch café in Cherry Hinton has been warned it will "run out of money" if it doesn’t make major changes.Ely Standard · 31 Oct, 12:00
- Village’s only café scales back hoursThe Cherry Branch café in Cherry Hinton has been warned it will "run out of money" if it doesn’t make major changes.Cambs Times · 31 Oct, 12:00
In this story: Cherry Branch café · Cherry Hinton · Cherry Hinton Community Benefit Society · Cambridge City Council · Kate Jones
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