Community Centres
Community Centres
New Harrogate Café Hoping to Become the Town’s Warmest Community Space
Coffee, conversation and companionship are at the heart of a new community café in Harrogate that hopes to become a welcoming social hub for people of all ages.
The Lounge Café” at St Mark’s Church on Leeds Road has officially opened — offering speciality coffee, homemade food and a friendly place where visitors are greeted personally as they arrive.
But unlike many cafés, the focus here is just as much on friendship and wellbeing as it is on coffee and cake.
A Café Designed Around Community
Step inside The Lounge Café and visitors will find:
Comfortable armchairs and cosy seating
Bright modern décor
Fresh coffee and homemade treats
Friendly volunteers and staff
A relaxed atmosphere designed for conversation
The church’s former community room has been transformed into a vibrant lounge-style café aimed at helping people feel connected and welcome.
Organisers say the venue is especially aimed at:
Older residents looking for companionship
Parents wanting a friendly coffee stop
People working remotely
Visitors new to Harrogate
Anyone wanting a quieter, welcoming place to relax
What’s on the Menu?
The café serves:
☕ Ethically sourced speciality coffee
🫖 Teas and hot chocolate
🥗 Savoury rolls and salads
🍰 Cakes, traybakes and teacakes
Opening times are:
Tuesdays and Thursdays — 10am to 1:30pm
(last lunch orders at 1pm)
More Than Coffee: Events and Wellbeing
The Lounge Café is also planning regular:
Community talks
Music sessions
Wellbeing activities
Social events
Advice drop-ins
The first event takes place at 10:30am on Tuesday 26th May, when Police Community Support Officers Olivia Bigsby and Richard Northcott will give practical advice on:
Phone scams – Fraud prevention – Personal safety – Staying secure online
The event is particularly aimed at older residents and vulnerable members of the community.
A Real Sense of Friendship”
Vicar Mike Resch said the long-term aim is to create a genuine community hub in Harrogate.
He said: We are incredibly excited for the future of The Lounge Café. We would like it to become the hub of local life, bringing people from all ages and backgrounds together, giving older people, young mums and visitors to the town a real sense of community and friendship.”
Easy to Visit
Leeds Road, Harrogate
No. 36 bus stop directly outside
Free parking available at St Mark’s Church
Why People Are Talking About It At a time when many people feel isolated or disconnected, The Lounge Café is trying to offer something increasingly rare — a genuine place to slow down, meet people and feel part of the local community. And in a town known for its cafés, this new Harrogate venue is hoping its biggest selling point will be simple human connection.
The Lounge Café at St Mark’s Church is not just serving coffee and cake — it’s aiming to tackle loneliness and create a stronger sense of community. The new venue on Leeds Road offers speciality coffee, homemade food and regular wellbeing events, while every visitor is personally welcomed by a host. Organisers hope it will become a friendly social hub for older residents, parents, visitors and anyone looking for companionship and conversation in Harrogate.
Harrogate Directory for Community Centres in Harrogate, Knaresborough & Ripon
| # | Firm Name | Address | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bilton Community Centre | 48 Bilton Ln, Harrogate HG1 3DU | 01423 560056 | https://www.biltoncommunitycentre.org.uk/ |
| 2 | Jennyfields Styan Community Wellbeing Hub | Grantley Dr, Harrogate HG3 2XU | 01423 521667 | https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/active-north-yorkshire-venues/jennyfield-styan-community-wellbeing-hub |
| 3 | Fairfax Community Wellbeing Hub | Fairfax Ave, Harrogate HG2 7RU | 01423 883614 | https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/active-north-yorkshire-venues/fairfax-community-wellbeing-hub |
| 4 | Knaresborough Community Centre | 79 Stockwell Ave, Knaresborough HG5 0LG | 01423 862702 | https://chainlane.org/community-centre/ |
| 5 | Oatlands Community Centre | 29 Beech Rd, Harrogate HG2 8DZ | 07973 164023 | https://www.oatlandscommunitycentre.co.uk/ |
| 6 | Ripon Cathedral Hall | High Saint Agnesgate, Ripon HG4 1QR | 01765 451441 | https://riponcathedral.org.uk/ (Cathedral site with hall info) |
| 7 | Ripon Community House | Sharow View, Allhallowgate, Ripon HG4 1LE | 01765 603631 | https://www.riponcommunityhouse.co.uk/ |
| 8 | St George’s Community Centre | 2 Mornington Terrace, Harrogate HG1 5DH | 01423 562606 | https://stgeorgescommunitycentre.org/ |
| 9 | St Robert’s Centre | 1–3 Robert St, Harrogate HG1 1HP | 01423 529771 | https://strobertscentre.org.uk/ |
Community Centres
