St James Park St James Road, Southampton SO15 5SD
Parklife Community Café is set in the grounds of St. James’ Park in a converted Air Raid Precautions (ARP) building which now houses the Café, a Community Room, an office and toilet facilities. Parklife manages and maintains the building, offering space for hire to other local organisations. The outside seating area has been recently refurbished with funding from Southampton City Council to create a new, modern seating area.
Parklife operates as a social enterprise, providing not only café and community room services to the local community, but also providing opportunities for volunteering, learning, and employment, particularly to young people or those struggling to get back into employment. If you are interested in volunteering, training and support please contact the manager info.parklifecafe@gmail.com or pop in and speak to a member of staff who will take your details.
The Café has an indoor area with 12 seats and an outdoor covered terrace with 24 seats. Seating is adjusted during the winter to provide more seating inside. Recent refurbishments by Parklife Cafe include air conditioning/heating inside the cafe area to improve customer and staff comfort, and new furniture and equipment. It’s open every day including weekends and bank holidays, offering a simple menu of good quality food, snacks and drinks to suit most tastes and budgets. Summer hours 9.30 am – 5 pm, Winter hours 9.30 am – 4 pm.
Park Life Café FOOD AID SERVICE
Self-referral or via another organisation, at Parklife Cafe St. James Park in Shirley, SO15 5SD
Monday -Saturday (Every day) Open 10 am – 4 pm
Free weekly food parcel allocated per household
Contact: 023 8077 9763 or email info.parklifecafe@gmail.com
Parklife Cafe aims to reduce waste and carbon emissions by recycling, limiting consumables and reducing all forms of waste through its food, clothing and household item redistribution projects. To date, the cafe has saved tonnes of items from landfill.
We welcome pop-ups in or outside the cafe from other charities, local services and small businesses at no charge. Please contact us if you would like to connect with your local community.
You can find the menu and the latest news on the Parklife Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/parklifecommunitycafe
Park Life Café COMMUNITY PANTRY
Open to everyone ,at Parklife Cafe St. James Park in Shirley, SO15 5SD
Monday -Sunday (Every day) Open 10 am – 4 pm
Reduced-priced food items available for donation to cafeContact: 023 8077 9763 or email info.parklifecafe@gmail.com for referrals
Parklife supports our local community through a variety of services. One of them is a supply of free weekly food parcels for free to those struggling and a community pantry (open to everyone), providing reduced-price chilled, ambient and frozen produce that has been saved from landfills. All donations from the pantry go directly back into the free community services provided by the cafe.
Other services (For more information please contact us on info.parklifecafe@gmail.com)
Our community room hosts a range of groups provided by other organisations, including local schools, Friends of St. James Park, NHS services and other charities, acting as a community hub for local residents. Please contact us if you would like to hire our community room.
Groups run by Parklife Community Cafe include:
Happy Café – on Fridays (Mental Health)
From 10.00 am – 3.00 pm – a friendly social group for all, especially anyone who is feeling isolated or struggling with their well-being. Free cake or pastry with every hot drink.Contact: call 023 8077 9763 or email info.parklifecafe@gmail.comFree Happy Café – 10.00 am – 3 pm – a friendly social group for all, especially anyone who is feeling isolated or struggling with their well-being. Free cake or pastry with every hot drink.
Free Greyhound dog therapy – Part of our happy cafe wellbeing 10 am – 12noon
Toddler Group at Parklife Café, (FREE)
Fridays from 10 am to 11.30 am Term Time Only
Contact: 023 8077 9765
Free Family Lego Sessions
Sundays 12.30 pm – 2 pm held in the community room
No need to book. Refreshments available in the caféContact 023 8077 9765 or info.parklifecafe@gmail.com
Art class – on Sundays (Childrens’ Activities & Mental Health)
10.15-12.15 reduced-price art classes for all. Free spaces are provided for those who are struggling with mental health or feeling isolated. See the Facebook page for details or email info.parklifecafe@gmail.com to book
Welcome Fridays for over 65’s
Once a month Fridays from 11.30 am – 2 pm – a friendly social group for all, especially anyone who is feeling isolated or struggling with their well-being. Free hot drink, lunch and sweet treat. Various activities will be included, booking is essential as there are limited spacesContact: call 023 8077 9763 or email info.parklifecafe@gmail.com
Free family Lego sessions – 12.30 pm – 2 pm held in the community room, no need to book. Refreshments available in the cafe
Free youth boxing sessions – Wednesdays and Saturdays, for ages 12 – 25 who cannot access sporting activities or who are struggling with their mental/physical health.
Parklife Embroidery group
First Tuesday of the month from 1 pm – 3 pm – a friendly social group for all and a safe space to share sewing or other craft projects
£2 per person per session
Contact: call 023 8077 9763 or email info.parklifecafe@gmail.com
Please email info.parklifecafe@gmail.com to discuss and for more info
Monthly (Community Service / clothes bank)
Reduced-priced clothing sale – 10 am – 2 pm, first Saturday of every month. Open to everyone, providing brand new clothing for a fraction of the price. All donations go back into the Cafe’s free services
Note: The Facebook Page is updated regularly – please check for information before you visit.