A Community Café with Purpose
Café 1759 is a warm, not-for-profit community café located in the heart of Whitehill and Bordon. Since opening in 2018, we’ve become more than just a place to enjoy great coffee and homemade food — we’re a welcoming space where people can connect, relax, and feel part of something local and meaningful.
We proudly form part of Abri’s community investment programme, supporting East Hampshire District Council’s Healthy New Town Agenda. With Abri’s backing, we deliver activities, events, and services that strengthen our neighbourhood — from warm spaces and children’s holiday meals to volunteer training and social gatherings.
A Name with Local Roots
Our name, Café 1759, pays tribute to the Battle of Quebec — a pivotal moment in the Seven Years’ War. The nearby Quebec Barracks, built between 1903 and 1910, were named after historic battles from that time. Our café now sits among those original buildings, proudly blending local history with a modern community spirit.
Local, and Made with Care
At Café 1759 we serve hearty breakfasts, freshly baked cakes and savoury pastries that wherever possible, we use local ingredients to support nearby producers and reduce food miles.
Why we exist:
- To offer a welcoming space with great food and drink, whether you're staying a while or just passing through.
- To offer a welcoming space where everyone can share ideas, have a say in local decisions, and work together to shape better services. We’re here to listen, tell us what matters to you.
- To create social connections, reduce isolation, and provide a friendly ear to everyone who walks through our door.
- To support local families and reduce waste through initiatives like our Community Pantry.
- To create lasting impact by hosting creative, educational, and wellbeing events.
- To create volunteer opportunities and community-led activities that empowers residents to shape their environment.
Our Commitment:
Serving the community is our focus at Café 1759. If you feel we’ve fallen short you can contact us to make a complaint. We provide a simple, fair and consistent approach to all complaints and we use the learnings to drive service improvements across our business. We appreciate your feedback and we’re committed to turning things around for you. Find out how to make a complaint: Abri complaints.
Café 1759 Impact Assessment
We like to measure ourselves against these commitments annually, so you can see and understand all the important goings-on in the café. So why not grab a cuppa and read up on the very latest!
Shaped by Community, Supported by Abri
We don’t just serve the community — we’re shaped by it. Feedback from our customers directly influences what we offer, from menu items and flavoured teas to activities and family-friendly events. Thanks to Abri’s support, and your ongoing input, we continue to grow as a space where everyone feels welcome and valued.
Recently we have listened to customers and have implemented a new menu which offers children’s options and an all-day breakfast option – our most popular seller!
Café 1759 is here to make everyday life a little easier and a lot more connected. Whether it’s a warm meal, someone to chat to, free kids’ activities or affordable groceries, what we offer is based on what people in this community have told us they need.
Here are just a few stories that show what’s possible when a community comes together.
The local community have told us they would like to see more low-cost children’s activities, particularly around the school holidays. As a result, we have worked with our partners to deliver children’s activity sessions. Since 2024 we have had 384 children take part in 8 different youth projects and activities.
Here are some examples of those activities and the impact it had within the community:
Based on feedback from the community Abri funded local organisation Yplus to run Summer Sessions during 2025. YPlus provided took place which included craft activities, Lego sessions, sports and other activities. Over the five sessions 97 children attended. The meant families could engage in affordable activities which have helped with mental wellbeing of both children and adults during this extended time away from school. Those who attended told us:
- “As a family, we really enjoy these sessions!”
- “With plenty of activities to do and the children can use their imagination to invent new activities. It’s flexible and relaxed.”
- “Having the cafe next door is a great help if you want to use the pantry.”
- “Thank you for organising these events over the summer, it has really helped me keep the little ones entertained. It’s amazing that they are free. All the staff have been great, very friendly and really joined in with the kids. We attended the Lego sessions and the games morning at the cafe.”
- “It was great!”
- ‘Y+ Free Summer Sessions were fantastic! The set up and range of activities was brilliant and the staff were all happy and friendly and engaged with all the children. My children didn't want to leave. We will definitely book again if they run next year! Thank you!’
We worked with the local library and key volunteers to deliver monthly messy play sessions for 4-11yr olds. For the low cost of £3 per child we provide activities which includes a physical activity to encourage more movement. Being active is good for the body and the mind so we’re keen to incorporate this into the sessions. We also offer a healthy cooked meal alongside the activity provision. We’re always looking to improve our activities, so we often share surveys with those that attend to capture the impact and seek feedback. From our latest surveys, we learned that:
- 70% of children have had an increase in confidence
- 70% have increased their interaction with other children
- 60% have tried new foods
- 40% have increased their activity levels
- 100% said it was great value of money.
Customers told us:
“They’re really well organised and have encouraged my child to try new foods which has increased his meal choices. We want to come back every month!”
“My child’s confidence has increased by taking part in the activities and playing with other children. I also get some downtime as a mum and talk with other parents I hadn’t met before.”
“Coming to this means I don’t have to cook a meal for the children for one night saving me some money so we can afford to make other meals and try new things we wouldn’t normally have been able to.”
We are very lucky to have some amazing local volunteers in our community, some of which have started up Lego Heroes, a free Lego building session delivered during the school holidays in our community room, The Room.
With over 5,000 pieces of Lego to choose from, families can come along to the drop-in sessions free of charge and let their imaginations roam free. There have been some incredible creations, from hot air balloons, magic houses to pirate ships and airports! Don't just take our word for it, here's what our customers had to say:
“We’re so lucky to have this facility on our doorstep and to be able to come along and enjoy time as a family doing something really fun. The community room is such a nice space to be in and the volunteers are so kind.”
“It’s great to be able to come and do something like Lego heroes, especially when the weather is wet. We don’t have to spend money we don’t really have and can still have a really lovely time. Thank you.”
How We Look After Each Other
Café 1759 is a warm, inclusive community space where everyone is welcome. Whether you’re coming in for a chat, a meal, or to join one of our activities, we want you to feel safe, comfortable, and respected.
A Safe and Supportive Environment
We take safety seriously. Our café operates with strong safeguarding procedures in place to protect both visitors and staff. Whether you're attending alone, with children, or with support, we work hard to ensure our café is a safe space for all.
Our team are trained to spot and respond to safeguarding concerns, and we follow clear protocols in line with regulatory guidance and best practice. Everyone should feel secure when spending time with us.
Accessible to Everyone
We believe everyone should be able to enjoy what Café 1759 has to offer. That’s why we’ve made sure our space is fully wheelchair accessible, including accessible toilets.
We’re mindful of the diverse needs within our community. That means using clear, easy-to-read signage, creating a welcoming environment for breastfeeding mothers, and ensuring our staff are trained to support a wide range of accessibility needs.
If you need additional support during your visit, just ask — we’re here to help. We’re always open to hearing your feedback and concerns. If you think of something that would make your visit more accessible and welcoming, please let us know.
Focused on Inclusion
Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. We aim to be a space that reflects and celebrates the diversity of our community. Everyone, regardless of age, background, ability, culture, or circumstance, is welcome here.
We strive to remove barriers to participation, offering low-cost activities, free events, and a range of community services designed to support wellbeing and tackle isolation.
Clean, Safe Food – Every Time
We’re proud to hold a 5-star food hygiene rating, awarded by the local authority. Our kitchen follows strict hygiene standards, and our team are trained in safe food handling so you can eat with confidence.
We offer a range of affordable, nutritious options — with vegetarian, vegan and allergy-aware choices available where possible.
We Listen and Act on Feedback
We’re always listening. Whether it's a suggestion for a new event, feedback on the menu, or ideas to make the café more welcoming. Your input shapes how we grow.
We regularly collect feedback from customers and use it to improve our service, making sure we continue to meet the needs of the people we serve.
Trained Staff and Volunteers
Every member of our team (whether paid staff or a volunteer) goes through a comprehensive training programme. Depending on their role this includes:
- Customer service and hospitality
- Equality, diversity and inclusion
- Safeguarding and safety awareness
- Food hygiene & allergy awareness
- Accessibility and disability awareness
- Fire Warden
- First Aid
- Dealing with conflict
- Risk assessments
We invest in our team so they can provide a high-quality, respectful and responsive service, making every visitor feel welcome.
Our Commitment
Café 1759 isn’t just a café — it’s a community space built on respect, trust, and belonging. We're proud to be supported by Abri, and everything we do reflects our shared commitment to creating stronger, more connected communities.
