Cafe48, the story so far!
A community cafe has always been a top priority whenever the Trust carried out community surveys and consultations. So with the purchase of The Medan Centre in March 2020, along came the perfect opportunity to create one.
We recruited Tracy Grant who had 13 years of experience running her own successful catering business in the area and Cafe48 was born. This was not an easy task as we had the Covid pandemic to contend with but after a lot of hard work Cafe48 opened its doors in November 2020. Cafe48 is named after the Turbine that funds the Trust, an Enercon E48 WEC.
Cafe48 has gone from strength to strength since its opening with Tracy and her hardworking team of Staff and Volunteers offering good honest food at a reasonable price and creating a comfortable and welcoming environment for folk to enjoy. According to feedback and with the number of repeat visitors, we seem to be getting it right!
Cafe48 has extended into the Quarry Room in order to accommodate the growing number of customers and a small play area was created for babies and toddlers.
The Trust and Cafe Team work as one to ensure that what one does it always compliments the other. So if you ever come along to a Trust event, you'll always be guaranteed a fine piece from Cafe48!
In August 2024, we sadly said goodbye to Tracy. Tracy's legacy though is leaving Cafe48 as a local success story. She was the driving force behind the idea that began during Covid and despite it's best efforts at stopping it's momentum, Tracy's determination to build and grow a thriving community cafe is plain to see today.
Fraser Ferguson has taken over the Cafe Manager role and the Trust welcomes him on board.
Accessibility
When we purchased The Medan Centre, we were aware of its accessibility restrictions to not only Cafe48 customers but to all users of The Medan Centre and were committed to addressing these.
So far we have created an accessible toilet on the Cafe level, an accessible entrance to the Quarry Room and an accessible ramp to the front door of the Cafe.
Please see the handy building access guide that we have created.
Volunteer with Cafe48
Do you have some time to spare and would like to give something back to your community? Although Cafe48 employs Staff, our small team of dedicated Volunteers are also essential to it's running and success. Whether it be serving customers or doing the dishes for an hour or even two, we would very much welcome whatever skill or time that you have to give.
For more information and to have an informal chat then please contact our Cafe Manager, Fraser Ferguson on cafe@udnycommuitytrust.org.uk or 01651 842346.
Or click on the link below to complete and return our Volunteer Expression of Interest Form to us.
Cafe48 Volunteer Expression of Interest Form
We hold the "Taste our Best" award from Visit Scotland
Our Cafe Team worked hard to achieve this award which we have held since 2021.
To view the local producers and shops that Cafe48 proudly supports please click on the link below.
Produce from Wullie's Garden
Our dedicated Volunteer Willie has turned a neglected and overgrown border in the garden into a thriving and productive vegetable garden. Wullie produces a variety of vegetables such as potatoes, lettuce and courgettes, to name but a few, which the Cafe48 kitchen team then put to good use.
Reusable Cups
We sell our own branded reusable cups. When you purchase one, your first hot drink is on us then you receive 20% off your hot drink each time you return with your cup!
Loyalty Cards
We do loyalty cards where if you buy 7 hot drinks you'll get the 8th one free! Who doesn't love a freebie!
Soup and Sweet Wednesdays
Enjoy a soup and a sweet on a Wednesday for £7.80. See our Facebook page for our weekly special soup and sweet.
Weekly Specials
On top of our usual menu we also do weekly specials. See our Facebook page for our weekly specials. Our weekly special scone is always a sell-out!
Supporting Local
We are proud to support local crafters and have a small selection of locally produced gifts available to purchase. So if you're ever stuck for a last minute gift, then pop down and see what we have in stock.
We are also proud to provide our local sheltered housing with regular catering and provide soup to another local community cafe.
Duke of Edinburgh Volunteering Opportunities
We are now pleased to have partnered with Meldrum Academy and are providing volunteering opportunities for pupils working towards their Duke of Edinburgh.
Cafe48 at Christmas
Christmas is a very busy time of year for Cafe48. Christmas Lunch is served throughout the month along with two Breakfast with Santa sessions. They have become so popular that both require prior booking and last year saw Breakfast with Santa nearly selling out before it had even been advertised! In between this, forty-something Good Companions (a local social group) come for their annual Christmas Lunch in the Quarry Room and Christmas Lunch is brought to the residents of Green Acres (a local sheltered housing complex)!
Scottish Government Kickstart Scheme
We were very pleased to be able to take part in the above with the aim of getting younger people back into work. The scheme enabled us to create two new posts, one in the Cafe and one in the Kitchen. The candidates gained valuable work experience and were supported to improve their general employability. When the scheme finished we kept on one of the candidates who has settled well into the team.
A selection of what Cafe48 has to offer .....
