A new coffee shop has opened its doors in Walsall, with the aim of stirring up pride in the town and providing the community with a welcoming space.
The Table – formerly the Vine in Lower Hall Lane – is the brainchild of graphic designer James Clark, who has long dreamed of opening a coffee shop.
Now, with members of Walsall Community Church, he and a small team of dedicated volunteers have transformed the building into what is hoped will be a vibrant community space.
Serving coffees, teas, cakes and other goodies, diners can now eat indoors following the lift in local restrictions and there’s plans to let some of the space out to the local community. It has already had several people express interest in using it for toddler groups, art and craft classes and maths tutoring to just name a few.
The cafe also has laptop charging points, enabling enable people to go and work in a relaxing environment.
James said: “We called it The Table because we believe everybody deserves a place at the table. This is a community-focused coffee shop and we want it encourage connection and strengthen relationships in the community, especially for those people who need community around them.”
James and the team spent weeks transforming the site – filming their progress on social media – after receiving £10,000 grant funding from the National Lottery Community Fund and money from Walsall Community Church. It also launched a Crowdfunder page, which ended in April, with the aim to raise a further £5,000.
“We want to help elevate Walsall,” said James, who quit his job to focus on The Table. “It is a beautiful place with some amazing architecture, green spaces and amazing creative people. Instead of having to go to Lichfield, Birmingham or Sutton, Walsall deserves to be on the map a bit more.
“I love Walsall and the diversity of people, culture and community that we have in our town. It’s an amazing town, often in the shadows of neighbouring Birmingham, or tarnished by horrible statistics about crime or poverty.
“It’s true that this place has its fair share of challenges but it’s time that we all pick up the slack and actually do something about it, and what better way to change the narrative than to start writing a new story, right in the heart of the town?”
The Table aims to combat isolation and loneliness, which has been heightened by the pandemic, and support positive mental health through creative workshops, and will support local small businesses by providing retail opportunities. It also hopes to provide work experience and training for young people.
“It will provide a welcoming and safe place for the community to come together in a safe environment. This town is home to an amazing and varied population from many different cultures and we want to create somewhere that welcomes all and helps bridge gaps in our community,” said James.
“I have always had a dream to start a coffee shop and I am also hugely passionate about building community. I am so excited that my dream is going to become a reality. I am not from Walsall originally but it is the place I now proudly call home along with my wife, Katie and our beautiful daughter Laurel.
“Surrounded by empty shop fronts and vacant retail spaces we are putting our stake in the ground and saying ‘Walsall is great’! We all deserve somewhere to enjoy and celebrate our town, each other and our community, so that’s what we’re doing at The Table.
“We are so excited for this adventure and the impact it will have on the town and the people of Walsall.”
The Table is on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter – @thetablewalsall.