Success for Preston Pantry

A MONTHLY bistro at a very sheltered housing development in East Lothian has gone from strength to strength in its first six months since launching in March.

Preston Pantry, which was set up to give tenants, their friends and families, the chance to enjoy a restaurant style meal in a relaxed and comfortable setting has been getting into the swing of things with plenty of bookings and a sixties cabaret night.

The innovative café has seen huge interest and will even be offering several more pop-up evenings and an afternoon tea.

Katrina Cunningham, Manager at Johnny Moat Place, said, “We are so pleased that Preston Pantry has become such a hit with our tenants and their families. We hope the initiative continues to grow with more success in the future.”

“The team have been working hard every month to ensure that the experience is enjoyable for everyone who comes in for a meal.”

At the most recent pantry, staff and restaurant patrons were up and dancing to the Rat Pack’s hits crooned by a cabaret singer.

Trained staff at the development cook and prepare a three course meal from an à la carte menu for visitors to enjoy.

The café has proved popular with tenants who enjoy the experience of eating out in a familiar environment.

While the service is designed for those living with dementia in mind, Preston Pantry welcomes anyone from the local community to come and eat.

Katrina added: “It’s been great to see not just the tenants popping in for a bite to eat and the success we’ve enjoyed wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the community.”

The monthly Pantries are grant-funded by the Scottish Government’s People and Communities Fund and the additional pop-up Pantries by the Cruden Foundation.

Providing a safe and familiar atmosphere for dining out, Preston Pantry embodies Bield’s ‘Free to Be’ ethos which seeks to enable all their tenants to live their lives in the way they choose as much as possible.

Other restaurants like the Preston Pantry have proved popular at other Bield developments, with a handful now open across Scotland with plans for more still.