ILKLEY’S award-winning community café, Outside the Box has reopened in new premises at The Arcade on South Hawksworth Street with a fresh menu of contemporary dishes as well as many old favourites.

It has also launched its family area and shop, started to take event bookings and is supporting people with learning disabilities and volunteers to return back onto the team.

Run by innovative charity, Ilkley Community Enterprise, the café is a pioneering model of bringing people with different abilities and talents together to work and learn in the community. Moreover, as a social enterprise, it invests all profits back into the work of the charity.

“Our customers are not just enjoying the café and our fabulous venue but are using their purchasing power to support the local community and help make a real difference to the life experiences of people with learning disabilities,” said Louise Hale, the charity’s chief executive.

Since launching in 2013, Outside the Box has gone from strength to strength, developing a large and loyal customer base including many families, becoming a hub for the local community and gaining national recognition for its work in supporting people with learning disabilities. Whilst the pandemic closed the café for much of last year, it did little to dent the commitment and ambition of the charity and its many supporters, to do more and better. The result of many months of hard work, inspired vision and resourcefulness is an impressively rejuvenated building and a new destination café ‘with a difference’ at The Arcade in Ilkley.

“Having been away for so long and re-opening with a refreshed menu and in new, larger premises, it is fair to say we were a little apprehensive,” said Debbie Woodburn, catering manager at Outside the Box. “We needn’t have worried though, our first few weeks have been great with both returning and new customers clearly thrilled with what we are offering. It’s so good to be back and to have so much positive feedback!”

Georgina Hamill, pictured with family and friends had booked one of café’s extra large tables for some much-needed refreshments after the Junior Park Run in Ilkley. Her verdict on the new café was that “Outside the Box ticks all the boxes!”

Stephie Jenkinson, is one of the café members who has recently returned to OTB having spent a lot of the last 18 months at home with family.

“I was nervous to begin with but I have really enjoyed being back,” said Stephie. “It was great to see all my OTB friends again and to be able to serve food to the customers.”

Another distinctive feature of the remodelled café is the family area that provides a welcoming place for eating out with children and babies. With a play area, plenty of space for buggies, baby changing facilities and the café’s healthy and affordable menu for little ones, it is proving a hit with many parents, grandparents and ‘mum’s meet up’ groups.

“This is our third visit to Outside the Box this week!” said Geri Huang-Falkner pictured with her family in the café. "We love it,” added her son Alex, aged seven.

Also out enjoying lunch with their babies, local mums Holly Reed with Alba and Rosie Dale with Ivy, said: “It’s great, there really is nowhere else like it.”

As part of bringing a flourishing new life to The Arcade, the charity is also developing it as an events venue. “We already have bookings for a variety of events including children’s parties and special celebrations,” said Hilary Oliver, venue and enterprise manager. “The unique features of this beautiful building together with its flexible space, contemporary decor and central location are so appealing plus we can cater for all tastes and occasions. Alongside this, we can host lots of different events, exhibitions and community activities, in the process creating new opportunities for our members and supporting the development of the town. We are all looking forward to the next exciting chapter of Outside the Box and The Arcade.”

Outside the Box is open 7 days a week, 9am to 4pm.