Community cafe closing after battle to stay open

A community cafe has thanked its customers for sticking with it "through thick and thin" as it announced its closure.

Roots in Gloucester acts as a community hub, offering loose food and a refill service, as well as hosting events including music, poetry and stand-up comedy nights.

It said its decision to close followed a drop in income, a rise in energy bill costs, its directors needing to step away and the possibility of its Alvin Street building being put up for sale.

Roots previously closed in February 2024 but managed to reopen later in the year after a community fundraising effort. It will be closing its doors for the final time on 28 February.

Roots said it was open to offers to buy out the business' assets and would consider new directors coming in with funds to clear its existing debt.

It added there could be an opportunity to move elsewhere but that was still uncertain.

In December 2025, another community cafe in Gloucester - The Friendship Cafe - said it had been forced to close its doors due to rising costs and a struggle to "break even."

Reyaz Limilia, chair of the centre's trustees, said: "All charities and community organisations are being asked to do more but the funding available has decreased."

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