VOLUNTEERS plan to relaunch their community cafe for 2014 by showcasing its expanded menu with a free taster session.

Kennington-based Apple Cafe will hold the open-door event on Saturday at St Swithun’s Church.

The festivities will also feature face painting, live music and a raffle.

Committee member Liz Burton, 39, said the group was excited to show residents the new things it had to offer.

She said: “This event is just to remind people we are here and give them a chance to sample our new foods. The cafe is a great place for parents to relax and read a paper on a Saturday while the kids can play.”

She said the group started in 2010 and now had about 50 volunteers.

She said: “We started up with just a pop-up cafe in the church and people really liked it. We are quite a large village but we didn’t have anywhere to go to socialise.

“The church has been very accommodating and it has great catering facilities, which we have made use of.”

The cafe’s opening hours varied originally but it now opens every Thursday and Saturday at 10.30am. After it has covered its costs, any extra money it makes is driven back into other community groups.

The cafe also hosts events throughout the year and past activities have included massage sessions, foot treatment classes and a Santa’s Grotto for children.

Father-of-three Michael Morse, 43, takes turns with other people in the village to volunteer at the cafe about once a month.

He said: “Apple Cafe is a very positive thing in our village, it has given people somewhere nice to socialise. But we are always looking for volunteers, so the event will also be a chance to encourage people to give up some time to help out as well.”

New additions to the menu that visitors can try include cheese toasties, soups, cakes and fairtrade coffee and tea.