A new cafe in Nottingham is hoping to become a completely allergy-free spot in the city centre after undergoing a transformation. The Hungry Ghost Cafe has opened in Cobden Chambers offering not just the cafe but a shop and workspace, too.
Business owner Holly Nowak has plans to open the workshop to offer sensory workshops for adults and children. The cafe, which has already opened, will transition into an allergy-free spot for tea, coffee and cake. She was inspired to make the food allergy-free after her nephew was diagnosed with multiple food allergies.
"We have a small cafe offering cake and coffee which I hope will become allergy free. It's going to be a big thing to achieve and do properly. My nephew is three years old and he has ten out of the 14 food allergies. His life is hindered massively by the lack of awareness," she said.
"The art space at the back will be allergy free too. When I've done the research, a lot of workshops and children's clubs say they cannot guarantee anything so it's all down to you which in my case, my nephew wouldn't be able to go."
She added: "It brings a lot of anxiety for families and friends because you can't go out without four epi-pens on you. It can be terrifying."
When it comes to the workshop, Holly has plans to create a space where she can run classes or a space for adults with different sensory needs. As an artist, this is something she has incorporated into her studio work too.
"The workshop is a really important element to me where I want to create a calendar which will focus on sensory activities for groups, adults and children with learning difficulties. My creative practices are focused on sensory work and people's reactions to colour and sensory elements."
"There is a big opportunity for us to explore that as people so it's going to be a big important element of the place. We also have the space to shop which has 18 different local artists who have prints, tote bags, hats and jewellery.
The space also shares stock with Hopkinson's Vintage which is located by the train station on Station street. Vintage finds are dotted throughout the cafe, workspace and shop for customers to find including badges, vases and beads.
Holly feels there has been a shift in what customers are looking for and that they are more willing to support small or independent businesses instead of visiting chains or big brands.
"I think there has been a shift as people are buying more vintage and secondhand. During the lockdown, people found an appreciation for crafts and arts in a way they haven't before," she said.
The whole downstairs has had a fresh coat of paint and a revamp ready for welcoming customers. The team was able to get the shop ready to go in a short space of time. While the cafe is open, the workshop is due to open in the coming weeks and also, the upstairs vintage shop is getting ready to launch in the next few weeks.
"We decided to make the changes a few months ago and it's been across Hopkinsons and here. It's been a lot of work and we still have a lot of aims for the place and want we want to achieve in terms of the educational space and atmosphere. There is still a lot to come," Holly said.
When it comes to the next steps, Holly is focused on getting the workshop up and running.
"I've been meeting with Artworks in Sheffield who are a growing community that focuses on activities for adults with learning difficulties. I will be doing an exhibition with them at Wentworth Woodhouse, a sensory interactive exhibition. They have three centres in Sheffield and we are looking into potentially offering them space here."
She added: "I need to apply for funding and grants to get the right equipment to create the space. But there will be a lot of development in terms of the workshop space and getting it all out there."
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