A POPULAR community cafe has scored top marks in its food hygiene rating and it is ready to welcome back customers.

The Garden Cafe in Manzil Way, off Cowley Road, is run by mental health charity Restore.

The cafe aims to offer a friendly, welcoming place to relax within its gardens as well as invaluable training for those who use its services.

On May 7, the cafe received an unannounced visit from food hygiene inspectors from Oxford City Council and were awarded with a five star rating.

The cafe was given a score of ‘very good’ for the category of ‘food hygiene and safety’ and a mark of ‘good’ for the categories ‘structural compliance’ and ‘confidence in management’.

The cafe provides people with mental health problems the opportunity to learn catering and customer service skills, as well as getting work experience.

Christine McDermott, cafe manager, said the five star rating is a confidence boost.

She said: “Absolutely we are pleased with the rating, it really gives a boost of confidence to our members who are working really hard.

“It is a learning curve to understand how the food industry works.”

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Restore has projects across the county and Ms McDermott says the Garden Cafe offers a ‘holistic’ approach to metal health therapy, using the creation of the cakes and food to build confidence and move into the workplace.

Ms McDermott said: “It is a great hub, the garden itself is a great oasis, but unfortunately it is not that well known it is like a secret garden.

“It would be great for more people to come in and enjoy the relaxing space within the bustle of Cowley Road.”

Ms McDermott explained that many of the people working in the cafe struggled with the isolation of lockdown, but she is pleased with how well members managed with the constant change and adaptations that came with running the cafe as takeaway.

The cafe has been open since March 8, and is welcoming customers for inside and outside seating Monday to Friday from 10am to 3.30pm with lunch served from 12pm.

The community cafe has been aiming to cut its food waste by serving salads and other lunch time dishes that use up excess food.

It has also been providing food for Oxford Mutual Aid, a grassroots community support group which was formed in response to the Covid pandemic.

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