Marie Curie hospice Penarth want public to come to cafe

This is the groundbreaking myth-busting efforts volunteers are trying to achieve to help raise extra funds for a local hospice in the Vale.

Volunteers Joe Xeri, Gayner Austin, Glenys Hutchinson, Ceris Reed and Wendy Bridges with cafe assistant Rachel Horrobin (Image: Newsquest)

The café at Marie Curie's hospice on Bridgeman Road, Penarth, is officially open to the public having previously only been open to residents and visitors during the pandemic.

The cafe welcoming members of the public (Image: Newsquest)

The charity wants to welcome everyone to the café to help raise much-needed funds for Marie Curie.

Ms Horrobin with some fresh coffee! (Image: Newsquest)

We went down for a coffee and a sandwich and met some volunteers who blew away the myth that hospices are depressing saying they can be peaceful places to take five minutes out with a slice of cake and cup of tea, or a soup and a roll.

Watch the video below and walk round Marie Curie's hospice cafe in Penarth

And, they’re very reasonably priced too!

A coffee will set you back just £2.25 while a porridge pot is £1.10 and toast and butter just 35pence! Sandwiches and baguettes come in at £2.50 while a scone, jam and clotted cream is just £1.80!

And if you’re really wanting to push the boat out you can get the meal deal of sandwich, packet of crisps and can of juice for just over £3.

Great range of food (Image: Newsquest)

A slice of cake for just £1.85 (Image: Newsquest)

Volunteers described the setting as welcoming and not clinical, with lovely views – and those views are stunning, with the entrance to the café off Windsor Park at the back of the hospice looking out over the sparkling waters of the Channel.

The entrance to the hospice off Windsor Gardens (Image: Newsquest)

There’s also an outdoor seating area in the gardens of the hospice.

Outdoor seating with dogs welcome (Image: Newsquest)

Stunning views across the channel (Image: Newsquest)

Head chef, Steve Jones, said everyone at Marie Curie couldn’t wait for to serve more people.

“We enjoyed welcoming people back into the hospice café over the summer, and our volunteers have been vital in helping the catering team provide tasty meals and snacks for patients, relatives, staff, members of the public and other volunteers.”

And our verdict? We had a BLT and it was delicious on white bread with crisp bacon and fresh salad. Can’t complain at all!

The café is open 9.30am to 3.30pm with dogs welcome outside.