Bragar and Arnol Community Trust has announced the closure of Grinneabhat Café.
The trustees said the cafe in the Grinneabhat community hub at the former village primary school, was not making a profit.
A notice said: “This decision was not taken lightly. The café has been operating
at a loss for some time, and this reflects wider challenges - including the ongoing
cost of living crisis, a reduction in footfall, and rapidly rising costs associated
with running a café.
“These pressures, combined with recent increases in the minimum wage and National Insurance contributions, have made it unsustainable to continue.
“The trustees have a responsibility both to our community and to the funders who support our work.
“With this in mind, we have taken the very difficult decision to close the café and focus our efforts on continuing to run the hostel and delivering a programme of community events.
“We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks once more to the café staff, and we
wish them all the very best for the future. Thank you also to everyone who supported
the café over the years - your custom, kindness, and conversation meant a great deal.”
Closure of popular community run cafe in Lewis
25 April 2025
