Museum Street Cafe to reopen at new venue as workers’ co-op

The Museum Street Cafe specialising in vegetarian and vegan food closed its doors in November 2018. Picture: LUCY TAYLOR

After nine years of supplying Ipswich with hearty plant-based foods, the popular cafe closed its doors in November 2018 when its lease came to an end.

The cafe, which was a highly-respected hot spot for vegans, was forced to look elsewhere - and now the workers co-op, which will be owned and self-managed by its workers, has found a brand new venue to carry on its legacy.

The group will be announcing their new location on Tuesday, July 2. In the meantime they have set up a justgiving page to help raise £600 to go towards admin fees and associated costs.

A spokesman for the workers co-op said: "We are super excited to be opening and joining Ipswich's expanding roster of exciting new businesses, like our friends at Hullabaloo and the New vegan deli opening on Lloyd's Avenue.

Museum Street Cafe workers co-op are announcing their new venue next month. Picture: MUSEUM STREET CAFE WORKERS COOP (Image: Archant)

"Any excess money after we reach our target will be going to setting up a food bank and also towards plans of creating a street outreach soup kitchen project."

After closing down in November 2018, the group were forced to put their plans for the new co-op cafe on hold, and to find other jobs to finance their lives.

But now the plans have come together and they will be announcing their exact location in less than ten days time - celebrating with a party for all their loyal customers and contributors.

When the co-op opens they will continue to offer a range of vegetarian and vegan foods, including home-cooked and wholesome dishes such as soups, curries and their famous daal.

The workers co-op will continue its efforts to cut out single-use plastics - while also introducing a number of community projects such as a hygiene bank, a community bike kitchen, and a free community library service.