Dunmow's best juice bar none

THE DOORS to Great Dunmow s first-ever combined community cafe, juice bar and training centre finally opened this week after an 18-month wait. The Juice Project.com is the brainchild of manager Katy Patrick who, with the help of a group of resident volunt

THE DOORS to Great Dunmow's first-ever combined community cafe, juice bar and training centre finally opened this week after an 18-month wait.

The Juice Project.com is the brainchild of manager Katy Patrick who, with the help of a group of resident volunteers, opened the new venture on the corner of Market Place on Saturday following an extensive search for the right property and a long effort to secure the necessary funding.

Designed to be a one-stop shop for the whole community, the centre encompasses an internet caf�, juice bar and an upstairs learning centre where important life skills and new skills will be taught to young people who may be searching for work.

Mrs Patrick said: "We are all really excited about the caf� opening. It has been a real challenge getting it to this point but now everyone will have a place to go, especially young people.

"I like the idea of everyone mixing together - the young staff serving the older residents".

The caf� will work under the slogan of 'everyone deserves a place in their community and this is the place to be' - which the organisers say sums up the social enterprise's ethic which is to create a 'welcoming, accessible space for everyone irrespective of age or ability'.

As a result the cafe, which as been funded by national Lottery cash, Uttlesford District Council and Essex County Council, has intentionally recruited young people who are not in employment, training or education as paid trainees. The pricing policy will also try not to exclude people on a low income such as pensioners.

Distinguished guests including Dunmow's mayor and mayoress, Cllr Gwynn and Vera Davies, chairman of Essex County Council Lord Hanningfield, Uttlesford MP Sir Alan Haselhurst, and other elected councillors, were present at the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon.

Face painters and computer games entertained visitors throughout the day, followed by an entertaining quiz in the evening.

The opening hours for the new venture are 9am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 10pm on Sundays.

Mrs Patrick added: "Internet access, storytelling, poetry and speciality smoothies will keep customers coming back, time and time again, to Dunmow's only place to be."

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