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Council announces opening of new Westbury café

By Connor Steel

FAREHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL have expressed their “huge delight” as they confirmed that a public café has opened within the Westbury Manor under fresh management earlier on this week; which comes after the unpopular decision by Hampshire Cultural Trust to close the community museum late last year after it suffered from a cut to funding / budgets.

The new space is called Westbury Manor Cafe and is now managed by Lisa Wright; who also leads the Café at Zero 5 site based at Solent Airport (Daedalus) selling tasty cakes and a varied menu. It first launched to the public on Monday morning and will be open from 10am to 3pm each day for visitors (except Sundays); thus offering another option for all.

Lisa is further hoping to introduce a fresh impetus to the “private function space” that can be found adjacent to the café and can easily accommodate approximately twenty people at any time. All local groups have been asked to contact the venue to use the space on a regular basis; particularly those who did use this space before the museum’s final closure.

Plans are currently being explored to reopen the shop for the public and works from a local glass fusion artist are to be showcased at a future date, which will be available to be purchased by visitors. The council are further hoping to find a new permanent operator for the building over time and councillors have stressed its “strategic significance” to planning.

Readers can explore full quotes by Fareham Borough Council Leader Simon Martin by clicking on this link, whilst more information can be seen about past history of Westbury Manor and its former museum by exploring the online web link.

PICTURED BY FAREHAM BOROUGH COUNCIL: A new café has launched within the historic Westbury Manor facility.