Melksham Rotary has announced that the ArtHouse Café will not be reopening due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The popular café, located in the Market Place, has been run by the local group since 2011, raising over £100,000 for local charities and causes.
The group say that they are unable to reopen the café due to difficulties implementing social distancing guidance, and concerns for their volunteers who help run the café and their regular customers, as many are classed as being moderate or high-risk by the NHS.
As well as providing a place in the centre of town for people to meet over a cup of coffee, the café has also been used by a number of local organisations as a meeting place – most recently it welcomed a new ‘carers café’, offering carers and the people they care for a place to escape isolation and meet others in a similar situation. The cafe hosted teatime get-togethers for people with dementia and their carers. The cafe also supported local artists by displaying their work on the walls each month.
Jane Hardwidge, president of Melksham Rotary said, “This will be a great disappointment to many people.
“We are extremely grateful to all the volunteers, Rotarians and staff who have worked in the café. Over the years, proceeds from the business allowed the club to donate over £100,000 to local groups and good causes.
“We would also like to thank Ian and Sue Drew at Melksham News who have been great landlords and supporters of the café.
“Melksham Rotary will continue to exist, and we hope, as the lockdown is eased and normal life returns, to put on events to help local charities and good causes. We look forward to meeting people at these events.”
