News / St Werburghs
Crowdfunder launched after break-in at community cafe
A community cafe in Bristol has launched a crowdfunder after it was broken into and items were stolen.
The owner of St Werburgh’s City Farm Cafe, which faces St Werburgh’s City Farm and overlooks the playground, found the building had been broken into when she came into work in the morning.
An iPad, mini-rig, drinks, handfuls of quality cutlery and chef knives worth over £1000 were stolen from the cafe.
is needed now More than ever
Leona Williamson, said she was devastated that someone had stolen the items, but feels “very grateful” after a regular customer offered to launch a crowdfunder to replace the lost items.
Owner and founder, Leona Williamson and chef Arnaud Plantevin prepare flowers for service – photo: Izzy Henley
“We’re incredibly sad to share that our lovely city farm cafe was broken into over the weekend,” she said.
“Please donate whatever you can to help our lovely community space to replace the lost items, repair the damage and improve their security to stop this happening again.”
“We’ve been rooted in the community for 18 years,” Leona told Bristol24/7.
While Leona is grateful for the supportive community around her, she said the incident speaks to wider socio-economic struggles that her wider community is facing, and “desperation for a lot of people in these difficult times.”
Leona is still looking forward to taking part in St Werburgh’s City Farm’s ‘Farm Fair’ on September 23, supplying food and drink to punters.
Many of the ingredients used in the cafe come from their allotment
Some people have already generously donated items to the cafe to replace the ones that were stolen.
The unique cafe is known for its hobbit-like structure of organically shaped wood and treehouse feel.
Opened in 2005, the cafe often serves plant-based healthy meals and treats using seasonal ingredients, some of which come from the cafe’s allotment down the road.
The farm cafe was also broken into in March last year, along with St Werburgh’s City Farm’s tool shed and donation sculpture.
All photos: Izzy Henley
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