Thousands of people flocked to the opening of the new community hub in Cirencester today, Friday.
The Long Table CIC (Community Interest Company) was established six years ago in Brimscombe and has now expanded into the former House of Fraser department store in the centre of Cirencester, which closed in January 2019.
The organisation runs on a pay-as-you-can basis, meaning the food provided is accessible to everyone, regardless of means.
Co-founder Tom Herbert, well known for his TV appearances on three seasons of The Fabulous Baker Brothers, told Stroud Times: “We’re over the moon to open our sister organisation in Cirencester and at least 1,000 people have come through the doors on our first day.
“This new operation in Cirencester is going to be a beacon of hope on the marketplace for people that are needing human connection and need somewhere to go.
“We’ve had great feedback on the delicious food and it feels like home already and I really believe this is the department store of the future.”
The Cirencester hub is also the home of other social enterprises including The Bike Drop – a bicycle repair shop, Kids Stuff and Home Remedy.
The Long Table’s soft opening days consist of weekly lunch services on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with dinner services on Saturdays.
For more information on the Long Table, click HERE
Pictures by Matt Bigwood
