Southlands Arts Community Cafe
Southlands Community Café
Southlands Community Café has been a much-loved part of the Southlands community for the past few years. After our Christmas closure, we’re delighted to be reopening as soon as possible. While Sharon is away, the café will be running on reduced hours, opening Saturdays and Sundays only from Saturday 10th January 2026. We’ll also be offering a reduced menu, but many of your favourite dishes are still available. Please check back here regularly for updates on opening times and news.
Saturday & Sunday 10am – 4pm
Southlands Cafe Menu
During January we will be running a limited menu, so some of your favourites may be missing, but have all the teas and coffees, and many cakes available.
Coffee
| Latte | £3.15 |
| Cappuccino | £3.15 |
| Mocha | £3.15 |
| Flat White | £3.15 |
| Machiato | £2.45 |
| Espresso | £2.25 |
| Americano | £2.25 |
Add-ons
| Extra Shot | 50p |
| Whipped Cream | 75p |
| Vanilla Syrup | 50p |
| Hazelnut Syrup | 50p |
| Caramel Syrup | 50p |
Tea
| Breakfast tea | £2.25 |
| Lemon & ginger tea | £2.25 |
| Green tea | £2.25 |
| Camomile tea | £2.25 |
| Red berry tea | £2.25 |
| Peppermint tea | £2.25 |
More About Southlands Café
Southlands Community Café has been running for several years now, but its story began during a challenging time. Just after lockdown, when many community spaces were struggling to regain a sense of “normality,” Paula—our current Centre Manager—joined Southlands. With limited resources and plenty to contend with, she began looking for ways to reconnect with the community and raise the profile of the centre.
One idea stood out: a community café. The challenge, however, was funding—there simply wasn’t a budget to staff and run one directly. After some thought, Paula proposed a creative solution to the trustees: invite an external team to run the café, rent-free initially, in exchange for sharing profits. This income could then support much-needed repairs and upkeep of the building.
Several people were interviewed, but the best fit by far was Mark and the team from Meal UK. Their vision was for a 100% vegan café, which sparked some concern—after all, not everyone was ready to swap dairy milk in their Earl Grey. A compromise was reached: the café would be vegan-first, with dairy milk available for those who preferred it (provided by Southlands). This approach worked well, and the café quickly found its footing.
Like most community projects, the journey hasn’t been without its ups and downs. When Mark eventually moved on, the café was taken over by Sharon, who continued to build on its success.
With Sharon now away until March, Paula was keen not to let all that hard work be undone. From January, she has stepped in to keep this quiet oasis open—serving coffees, teas, and cakes until Sharon returns.
So whether you’re popping in after a dog walk, browsing the artwork, asking about room hire, picking up one of our books, or simply needing a moment to sit and unwind, Southlands Community Café is here for you.
And if you happen to be boycotting the big-name coffee chains, why not give a local community café a try? The coffee is just as good—and you’ll feel even better knowing you’re supporting a local charity. A win-win. ☕