Community cafe could "bring life back" to Winklebury Centre (From Andover Advertiser)

Community cafe could "bring life back" to Winklebury Centre

11:49am Sunday 17th February 2013 in Basingstoke By Emily Roberts, Chief Reporter

A COMMUNITY café could “bring life back” to a shopping centre – that’s the claim from a shop owner with a plan.

John Burton, of John Burton’s Food Market, in Winklebury Centre, Winklebury, Basingstoke, has applied to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to change the use of his shop to include a café.

The shop would be split into two with the café having five tables and 17 chairs. The majority of food served would be cold and already prepared, but some would be cooked in the morning.

Mr Burton said that the café would allow residents to meet up socially and “bring life back into the area.”

He added that the centre struggles to attract customers or to get people to return regularly.