Café unveils new events to bounce back after canal breach
A Shropshire café fighting back after a major canal breach has unveiled a new programme of events designed to safeguard its future.
The Lockside Café at Grindley Brook, near Whitchurch, says the success of its growing calendar of community events will be vital to its long‑term survival after losing around 70 per cent of its trade when the Llangollen Canal was forced to close following last Christmas’s breach.
The café is building on the success of its Bakers’ Day at the end of March with a Spring Mini Market this Sunday (April 12). Running from 9am to 3pm, the market is already fully booked with a wide range of specialist stalls – plus an extra‑special slime station for younger visitors.
Lockside will also be taking part in the Whitchurch Food and Drink Festival in Jubilee Park on May 16, before hosting its own Music Day from 1–3pm on May 25, featuring local bands Chemistry and Laughing Gravy.
The dog-friendly café is also staging a Paws at Lockside event on May 10, with a local vet on hand to judge the dogs.
Chris Burtonwood, who runs the café with his mum Jane Beaumont, sister Rachel and brother Matthew, said the team was determined to give the community events to remember.
“We’re really looking forward to the Spring Makers’ Market this Sunday, which has a wonderful range of stalls set up in our not‑so‑secret garden,” he said. “There will be crafts, cakes, canine treats and much more – and the slime station is guaranteed to be a big hit with kids of all ages.
“We couldn’t pass up the chance to support the Whitchurch Food and Drink Festival, and we’re excited to take the café on the road so even more people can enjoy what we do. And our Music Day looks like being an absolute cracker.”
Chemistry, an acoustic rock, indie and country duo shaped by the spirit of the 1990s, will perform a mix of lesser‑known covers, later tracks and original songs. Laughing
Gravy – made up of local musicians Liz, Phil and Pete – will bring a folksy, bluesy, happy‑go‑lucky set of popular and hidden‑gem tunes.
“The combination of local bands, local brews and a whole lot of Lockside love should make for a wonderful afternoon,” Chris added.
