Progress

So, when’s the hoarding coming down at St Peter’s and the long-anticipated Next Door Hextable opening?

By the time you read you may have a partial answer as the hoarding will soon be disappearing to our and everyone else’s delight! A lot has been happening behind the scenes with contractors on schedule to complete the internal fitting-out before Christmas. On the outside, there have been many revisions to the timing because of the national shortages of materials and the implications of Covid also for our contractors, but all the external works should be undertaken between mid-October and the end of November. This will be unavoidably noticed!

When completed the Annexe will open up the centre of our village with a newly landscaped area containing planting, lighting, signage, and a new accessible ramp leading to the front doors, right from the entrance junction of our community. The fresh open landscaping and high levels of glazing will increase the physical and visual connection between the building and the wider community.

The cornerstone of Next Door Hextable will be a quality café serving great coffee and other drinks and hot and cold food, operating normal business hours, using local specialities and suppliers where we can. Importantly it aims to provide a space and a place to connect and extend a warm welcome, promoting wellbeing and developing community in Hextable.

There will also be a large multi-purpose hall on the first-floor level that will cater for larger group gatherings, clubs, and exercise classes, and work hub facilities for those who need a quiet space to operate outside their home.

We are therefore working hard on all the detail relating to the operation of the café and centre, including staff recruitment, menus, raising remaining funds and the hundred and one other tasks, with a view to opening our doors early in the Spring!

The decreasing fundraising total continues to know favour and there'll be opportunities for being part of the thirty people trained staffing and volunteer team if you'd like to be a part of this local good news story. We look forward to being able to welcome you soon.

Any and all questions do just ask?!
vicarjohnny@stph.org.uk