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Wed 9th May 12 Tea Junction Cafe

What does the Tea Junction cafe consist of?
There are few community spaces on Arbourthorne and Norfolk Park and even fewer places to get a ‘proper’ coffee without going into town at a decent price (ours is half the price of Starbucks!). So what do we offer with that proper coffee you might ask? Home-made Brownies, Banana Cake, Cream Teas; ‘Exploding Jackets’ as our potatoes are fondly called (for their size and decent filling); Ice Cream Milk shakes and Chilli Nachos are among the many things on the menu and people can’t believe the prices. We’ve been told by a number of people now that we have ‘the best breakfast in Sheffield’. I’m guessing the value for money combined with the quality is probably why – but it could be that it’s really because those in S2 just have to roll out of bed and cross the road to get it!
We have healthier options too (our ‘Slimmers Breakfast’ is popular for Slimming World users) and we have salads, sandwiches made fresh, a healthy cooked meal of the day and fresh fruit smoothies.)
 
Making ends meet on a low income or on benefits is a real stretch, as many of us know living here, but we’ve deliberately designed the prices to fit the guys in our patch so that there’s something for EVERY wallet, subsidising what we can. We recognise that by doing so we are unlikely to cover our own costs, so we are also beginning to cater for different streams and will be offering outside catering for small events shortly to help make ends meet and provide a better service. We’re also launching the Tea Junction for other events too – such as funeral wakes.
 
We aim to source our food locally, as fresh as possible and as ethically as possible, both to promote health and local employment. Our fruit and vegetables come from Stuarts in our fabulous (and under-used) Castle Market; our Bread Baps and Scones come from Brook Bakery in Wincobank (who Nigel describes as ‘fabulous’); our ethical coffee comes from local Pollards, and our milk and free range eggs are from Price’s in Eckington.
 
I love the wide variety of people who come through our cafe doors, from the ‘Hungry Harry’s’ who are ‘man enough’ for our large Bacon Baps, to Mum’s with their tiny toddlers who love our play corner; from professionals meeting or working on WiFi; to teens and families coming in for an early dinner after school – with no washing up!
 
Advantages to the Tea Junction being located in a church/community centre is we get a lot of enquiries from people facing all kinds of challenges and tragedies, from bereavement, illness, redundancy etc and there are almost always people to talk to or pray with should the occasion arise. 
 
Why did we start it?
I sat in a health forum recently listening to the health statistics of my particular area of Sheffield being described as ‘among the worst’ for certain diseases and much of this being down to diet and lifestyle.
Surely something could be done about this? I thought! A growing number of us in our church and community have wanted to see a cafe here for some time and I have a heart to see people healthy, happy and whole in every respect so the idea of starting the cafe grew almost weekly and we launched it just after New Year this year. There are lots of great places on Arbourthorne for food ‘on the go’ but very few places where you can sit down and digest your food properly.
 
Where is it located?
The cafe uses a part of an old converted pub (now called the Beacon Church and Community Centre but previously the Fellbrigg Pub!). Many of you will remember it as providing sustenance of a different kind!
There has even been romance in the air as the guy who I asked to supervise the setting up of the cafe from its conception is now engaged to my youngest daughter.
 
The Tea Junction cafe is located where Arbourthorne and Norfolk Park join together, just around the corner from the Arbourthorne Tram stop, where Park Grange Road and Arbourthorne Road meet.
331, Arbourthorne Road, S2 2FH in the Beacon Church and Community Centre building Telephone 07532377060.
 
When we were brainstorming what to call the cafe one day, one of our guys Ollie overheard a conversation between a woman and someone on the end of the phone – “I’m at the T Junction on Arbourthorne” she said. It seemed to fit perfectly so Tea Junction it became!
 
When is it open?
We’re open from 9-5.30pm Monday to Saturday. From 5pm food can be taken away and take out is also available all day. You can even order your food in advance to be ready and waiting if you phone the contact number.
 
(We’re launching Saturdays from 5th May by marking it with a Fun Day from 11-3pm, including a bouncy castle and face-painting for kids; with a free ice cream cone if you want to come along and bring this article!)
 
Who works there?
Our lovely team of Vern, Nigel, Robbie and Ruth are supplemented by volunteers and we’re always looking for flexible, honest and hard working people to join our ’happy band of fellow bandits!’ Do pop in and see us if you’d like to volunteer on our team.
 
With whom are we rubbing shoulders (metaphorically!)...? 
The cafe is only one of the many user groups in the Beacon Community building. There is:
Sooper Troupers (a registered charity which enables people with disabilities to put on drama;) Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays
Zumba (popular to those of us who like to ‘shake our shimmy’ (whatever that is!) and work off that breakfast on Thursdays 6-7pm; Castle Zone Fridays 3.15-4pm (primary school age); Kids Klub 4-4.45pm (primary School age) Fridays at the moment but changing to Wednesdays in the near future; The Vine Youth Club Fridays 7pm (for ages 11-18 years run by the fabulous Eden Team) Ballet for adults and teenagers (free) Wednesdays 5.30-6.30pm
Overflowing Life Ministries Sundays 3pm open to all
Beacon Church Gathering Sundays 10.45am open to all
 
Tina Hodges [lovef1rsttina@googlemail.com] mobile  07850 660513
 

Wed 9th May 12 New menus at the Wig and Pen

We have launched our new menus at the Wig and Pen.

From delicious homemade pies to hearty dishes such as 'Seared short rib, wild garlic, potato & ox tongue terrine and beef jus', and a starter of 'Slow roast pork jowl, braised pig cheek, apple sauce and scampi'.

Whether you are just wanting a quick informal bite to eat or a 3 course meal there is something for everyone.

To book a table please call 01142 722150 or email bookings@the-wigandpen.co.uk
 

Wed 9th May 12 New May Menu @ Silversmiths

Now that Spring has truly sprung our menus are staring to take off with the fabulous produce from our Yorkshire fields.


This month we see delicious tender Spring lamb from Whirlow Hall Farm and wonderful foraged wild garlic and wild nettles from Oughtibridge.

We're also excited about our new fish supplier - who will be delivering the freshest fish from Whitby to Silversmiths so we can serve you the best North Sea fish!

May's menu will include:
Sorrel Wrapped Whitby Hake with a trio of cauliflower, mussel beignet & Yorkshire Leventhorpe red wine reduction & Pan Fried North
Stacey Bank Farm 14 Hour Braised Lamb Breast, rosemary infused mash, purple sprouting broccoli, baby carrots, red wine jus

Sea Trout with East coast lobster risotto, English asparagus, pea pearls
Foraged Oughtibridge Wild Nettle & Pearl Barley Risotto, parmesan wafer, edible flowers, blue cheese emulsion
 

To view the full menu please click here 

Wed 9th May 12 Silversmiths Listed as No.4 in The Times UK '30 Sexy Places to Eat'

As the only Yorkshire restaurant to feature in the "Sexy Restaurant" list, we are rubbing shoulders with fine brasseries from London to Edinburgh, quaint seafront eateries and Michelin-starred establishments

For us this accolade is a timely reward following a year of investments in the image of the restaurant. Changes including
a full rebrand, launch of a new website and complete restaurant refit


After a full shutdown in late April, this week sees the final touches and we have now completed the full project with a total kitchen refit and brand new cocktail bar 
 
So if you are looking to wine and dine your loved one or simply treat someone special we hope you will join us soon
 

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