The museum’s café is set for a fresh start and a new role in providing training and work experience for people with learning disabilities.

The café at The Brickworks Museum in Bursledon has been taken on by Minstead Trust, which is an experienced café operator and a charity that supports more than 220 people with learning disabilities across Hampshire and Portsmouth.

The business will be named ‘Brickyard Café’ and will be open from mid-April, Tuesday to Sunday from 10am until 4pm.

A selection of homemade light lunches, cakes and barista coffee will be on offer for visitors, as well as a children’s play area and renovated premises.

The café will provide training in customer service and catering for people with learning disabilities, who will also help produce the homemade cakes to be sold on site. A structured training programme will help people work towards employment, to enable them to live more independent lives.

The agreement also sees Minstead Trust setting up Brickyard Events at the museum, to run weddings, events and performances at the atmospheric venue. The events business will formally launch in the summer, when bookings for events and weddings will open.

Adam Dodd, Minstead Trust Chief Executive, said: ‘We are really pleased to be setting up this café and events business at The Brickworks Museum.

‘Increasing work training opportunities for people with learning disabilities is at the core of our mission. Having a job helps people to build their self-worth, feel pride in their endeavours and ultimately live more independent lives.

‘We are looking forward to working in conjunction with the team at the museum to offer great quality refreshments to their visitors, who I hope will relish the difference their custom is making for people with learning disabilities.’

Trustee for the Museum Judy Bevis added: ‘The Brickworks Museum Trust is delighted to welcome Minstead Trust to the museum to run the café and add to the variety of events offered at this important industrial heritage site.’

The Brickyard Café opens on 12th April 2022 at The Brickworks Museum (and we could not be happier!)