A new community café has opened at Eden Rural Foyer in Penrith.
Sweet Bakery by Aga operates as a family business and describes itself as a “home from home”.
As well as home-made cakes, cookies and desserts, on the menu are light savoury lunches including an Eastern European favourite, Polish zapiekanka, a toasted open sandwich made with a sliced baguette, topped with sautéed mushrooms and cheese. This has been a popular street food in Poland since the 1970s.
Sweet Bakery by Aga supports the Community Hub based at Eden Rural Foyer in delivering the popular Winter Warm Spot, which operates in the café during winter/cold months to help tackle loneliness and poverty in the town.
The cafe is open for food on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 11am-3pm.
It is hoped that throughout 2025, Eden Rural Foyer Café will be hosting various social/community events and workshops including karaoke, movie nights, Pancake Day and Polish Donut’s Day, International Women’s Day and many more.
“We look forward to seeing you there,” said a spokesman. “If there is an event ‘you’ would be interested in bringing to us, please speak with Emilia Szulc, resource centre manager.”
Eden Rural Foyer, part of Riverside Ltd. was the first Foyer set up in Cumbria and is situated in the old Regent Cinema in Penrith.
It offers accommodation and support to young people as well as support, training, learning and enhanced social opportunities to the Eden Valley community and further afield.
