What does a Social Enterprise café look like? I guess we all have our preconceptions, probably revolving around a certain degree of worthiness. On a day trip to Swansea, I hopefully googled in the hope of finding a Social Enterprise café… and scored.
Tapestri Cafe
Address: Llys Glas (also known as Swansea’s Old Police Station), 37 Orchard Street, Swansea, SA1 5AJ
Tapestri Cafe is open to the public: Monday to Wednesday 8am to 6pm, Thursday & Friday 8am to 7pm and Saturday 11am to 6pm..
Tapestri Bistro is open to the public: Friday & Saturday from 6pm until late
Free WiFi is available
Website: www.tapestri.co.uk
Tapestri conceals its non-profits credentials, deliberately I understand. Situated just a couple of streets away from Swansea Railway station, this is a highly modern and glossy café bar. It is smart with its right on message black leather seating and artfully designed outdoor patio area. Visitors remain unaware but profits from this establishment support three local homeless shelters. The white walls are broken up by artwork, painted by current and former residents of the shelters.
Food & Drink
Tapestri is open afternoons and evenings (a different bistro menu) with an impressive large menu and also offer sandwiches and takeaway salad boxes for people in a rush. Service is everything you’d hope for from a “concealed” Social Enterprise. I savoured the cappuccino – definitely well chosen beans. A different sort of bean also made for a decent chilli con carne. Meanwhile “the Boss” tried soup of the day, which was extraordinarily spicy.
What’s nearby
Just 5 minutes walk away is a free bookshop. Maybe authors might be peeved by the concept but for the rest of us, its very hard to walk past.
Looking for a great place to enjoy a coffee and / or lunch? Want to avoid the large chains? Our Food for Thought series will offer you insight into cafés that provide good food and drink whilst helping others.
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