A BRADFORD community café has retained its five-star status after an unannounced inspection earlier this week.

Gateway Centre on Thackeray Road, Ravenscliffe, Bradford, was given a five-star hygiene rating by the Environmental Health department on June 8, 2023.

This came after a thorough inspection of the café and food preparation area, to make sure everything was up to standard.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Centre Manager- Matt Henderson, Manuel Shah-Chairman, Brenda Wilkinson- Cafe Co-ordinator and Ebony Taylor- Community Development officer Image: Newsquest Centre Manager- Matt Henderson, Manuel Shah-Chairman, Brenda Wilkinson- Cafe Co-ordinator and Ebony Taylor- Community Development officer Image: Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

Matt Henderson, Centre Manager, said: “We’re really glad that we managed to retain our five-star rating.

“It was definitely a thorough inspection and, on a day, when we only had one staff member working the community café."

“We didn’t know the inspection as going to take place, but it all went smoothly.

The café offers low-cost meals to people in the Ravenscliffe area which has been described as one of the most ‘deprived’ areas in the country.

This café is part of a community hub that offers people in the area support on finance, jobs and hopes to create long-term change in the area by tackling poverty and disadvantages.

Mr Henderson added: “We do a lot for the community and we want to help them.

“We get 20 to 30 people using the café everyday, with at least 100 people a day visiting the centre, so it is well used.

“We offer breakfast and lunch as well as snacks, for people who are coming along to one of our sessions.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Friends enjoy lunch at the community cafe, Ravenscliffe. Image: Newsquest Friends enjoy lunch at the community cafe, Ravenscliffe. Image: Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

“We try to provide kids with free hot meals, to make sure they’re getting at least one hot meal a day.”

Café Co-ordinator, Brenda Wilkinson, was working by herself on the day of the inspection and was glad to have got through it with such ease.

She said: “I was very nervous because I was by myself, but we managed to do it.

“The inspector said we did a good job implementing everything and making sure it was to a good standard.

“They checked how the fridges and the temperatures we keep everything at and how we handle allergies.

“We did a good job.”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Friends enjoy lunch at the community cafe. Image: NewsquestFriends enjoy lunch at the community cafe. Image: Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

On Friday’s the community hub hosts a ‘senior lunch club’ where elderly people are offered a range of activities before heading off to lunch.

The day is well attended and elderly people enjoy having a space where they can get together.