Pickenham Community Hub, near Swaffham, welcomes new coffee shop with small supermarket inside

A new café with a grocery shop has opened up in a village’s community hub.

Pickenham Coffee Shop in North Pickenham, near Swaffham, enjoyed a successful and busy first day of business on Tuesday, June 4.

Serving cakes, milkshakes, fresh bread, coffee and more, the cafe has become part of the village hub, which already has a bar, hairdressers and eyebrow salon.

In addition to the coffee shop a small supermarket has been created inside, selling essential items to those who find themselves a bit short.

“It’s really lovely to have the cafe, and the shop is so helpful,” said Carol Richards, one of the volunteers at the hub.

The hub is in the former St Andrew’s CE Primary School building, on South Pickenham Road, which closed in December 2018.

Fundraising efforts from Pickenham villagers eventually raised enough to reopen the building as a place to bring people together as a community, and it has thrived ever since.

Nicola Ward decided to use her experience in hospitality to run the coffee shop.

“It is really important, especially for the older generations who are alone,” she said.

“They can come out, have a chat and see new faces - it’s really good for their mental health.”

Artists from the area also have their work displayed inside.

The cafe is open Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 3pm and is perfect for those walking the Peddlars Way footpath route.