Campaign is launched to save a Banbury neighbourhood cafe

Volunteer Saffi Bowers and cook Nikki Giles at the Horton View Community Cafe

The cafe is the brainchild of Lesley Montague who opened it up in an empty shop premises on Horton View last April. There are two rooms, one of which is used to serve breakfasts, lunches, coffee and cake and a Friday, three-course lunch; the other is used by an assortment of community organisations, from weavers to knitters and from art classes to a ukulele group.

But now after a year, the rent and costs have become too high and the cafe is looking for a different space in the same area.

Mrs Montague said: "It's been a huge success; it has a really good client group. It's open to everyone of all ages and it is a big help to those who are isolated. People can come here alone comfortably and meet new faces and make friends.

Customers enjoy morning coffee and cake at the Horton View Community Cafe

"We have all sorts of customers - people with disabilities, mums and babies, the elderly, dog walkers and many more.

"We have been told that we may not get council support because the Stanbridge Hall cafe, Robin's Nest is further down the estate. However we are not a duplication at all, as our community cafe is for people of all ages and capabilities, not just seniors."

The cafe is open Monday to Friday from 9am - 3pm and on Saturday from 9am - 2pm but it is due to close on Wednesday, March 25.

Mrs Montague, the cook Nikki Giles and the cafe's volunteers - who include an 82-year-old woman, an autistic lady and a student chef from Banbury and Bicester College - hope they may be able to get use of the Horton View Sports Club hall to keep it going.

The Horton View Community Cafe which faces closure on March 25 unless alternative premises can be found

Helper Liz Hawes, who is actively campaigning for a future for the community cafe, said: "The sports building hall would be ideal. It's hardly ever used and it has kitchen facilities. It's a waste of a valuable local resource if we can't use it.

"This is such a well-liked and well-used place and the community is behind us. There's nothing really like it anywhere else."

Banbury town councillor Cllr Kieron Mallon said Robin's Nest is open to all ages and is not restricted to elderly people.

"The town council provides sports halls and community buildings for public use, not private businesses. To do otherwise would deprive locals and sports teams of their enjoyment of sport and a healthy lifestyle.

"If any business has issue with its landlord it is for the two parties to settle, it is not something for the town council to get involved it."

The organisers are hoping to meet with the town council in a bid to encourage them to help save the project, which might be able to get some grant funding in the future, now that it has a history of success to back its applications.