Bonnington Café expands to three nights a week

Web Admin on November 30, 2023

The famous Bonnington Café is now available for bookings and walk-ins for three nights a week as we continue to roll out services. You can now eat at the Café  on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 6pm to 10.30pm, for servings of excellent vegetarian and vegan food.

On Thursday November 30th, the excellent Arfa Shah returns to the Café with her dazzling synergy of Asian and European vegan and vegetarian dishes. “I have a passion for cooking and have been cooking for over 20 years,” she tells us. “I am an innovative chef with a creative flair in a five star hotel (Michelin star). And I’ve adapted my style to accommodate classic European with Asian cuisine.” To book a table for Thursday November 30th, call or text Arfa on 07833 582133; or our Café organiser Natalia on 07999 953512

Then on Friday December 1st, Syrian cook Hind Danoun is back with us.  Hind is from Syria where she studied philosophy, before coming to the UK six years ago. She says it was was hard for her to feel like she belonged in a different country, and so to help create a place that felt like home, Hind decided to use cooking to show her culture. She started making her mum’s recipes, adding her own ideas and then starting her own business called Utopia. To book a table for Friday December 1st, call or text Hind on 07597446957; or Natalia on 07999 953512.

Returning to the Bonnington Café on Saturday December 2nd is local resident and cook Vic Conran. Vic has had a love for food forever – and for her, cooking is always about finding ways to put foods together, discovering symmetries in flavours, colours and textures. She has lived in Bonnington Square since 1983 and was cooking in the Café in the early 1990’s.

The Café will be open until Saturday December 21st this year for diners before returning early in the New Year – when Sunday lunches are also likely to be added to the growing menu. “We are so pleased to see the Bonnington Café back at the heart of our wonderful community, with its wonderful mix of new and returning cooks each serving mouth-watering vegetarian and vegan food. Come and give us a try!” says Natalia Boteva, the BCCA’s café organiser.

The Bonnington Café Returns! Saturday 18th November 6.30pm-10.30pm

Web Admin on November 15, 2023

After months of hard work and preparation, trustees are delighted to announce that the famous Bonnington Café finally returns this month, with fabulous vegan and vegetarian evening meals once again on the menu.

A roster of cooks, both new and old, will be delighting our palates.  Our first commercial night – for which we’re prioritising supporters and the local community – is on Saturday November 18th from 6.30pm to 10.30pm. We’ve also put affordability at the heart of our nights. Main courses will be £12, and starters and puddings £5 each. The Café will also still be BYOB for alcohol – with a £1 corkage fee for each bottle.

Welcoming diners for the first night will be local cook Hind Danoun. Hind is from Syria, and came to the UK six years ago. She studied philosophy in Syria and wanted to find a new home. Hind tells us it was hard for her to feel like she belonged in a different country. She thought about how to create a place that felt like home. Hind decided to use cooking to show her culture. She started making her mum’s recipes and really liked cooking. She added her own ideas and then started her own business called Utopia.

You can call Hind or Natalia to book: Hind is at 07597 446957; and Natalia at 07999 953512.

“We are so pleased and excited to be reopening the Café at last,” says Megan Doolittle, chair of the BCCA trustees. “We’ve had such amazing support from our friends and neighbours, and want to thank everyone who has been pitching in to make it happen. We can’t wait to welcome everyone.”

The Café will then be back on Saturday November 25th; then for three nights each week on Thursdays to Saturdays, starting November 30th. Our aim is to have the Café fully reopened for evening service by the Spring. Check out our revamped website with its new Eating at the Bonnington Café tab – where you can see who’s cooking on which night, and find their mobile number to call and book a table. You’ll also be able to walk in on the night – though we can’t always guarantee a table.

We look forward to seeing you back at the famous Bonnington Café soon!