The Safe Space Cafe is a community cafe and social hub located at Open House (13 Whitethorn Street London E3 4DA), serving hot drinks and wholesome meals to the community at Mind in Tower Hamlets, Newham, and Redbridge.

Everyone is welcome, whether you are a Mind employee, a client, a service user, or just someone looking for a warm place to enjoy a cuppa.

We are open Tuesday to Friday, from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm, offering a variety of food and drinks.

Our mission

Our mission at the Safe Space Cafe is to provide a warm and welcoming environment accessible to everyone, regardless of financial barriers. We focus on affordable pricing and excellent customer service to uphold this mission.

The cafe operates as a non-profit project. Our prices are kept as low as possible, and any profits made are used to subsidise free meals for the MindTHNR community. We ensure that no one is turned away due to a lack of funds and always find a way to nourish those who come through our doors.

Our food and drinks

At the Safe Space Cafe, we are dedicated to providing nourishing and affordable meals using intercepted surplus from supermarkets and corporate partners. This approach supports community resilience and inclusivity by keeping costs low and prices accessible.

  • Old Spike Roastery, a social enterprise, supplies our barista coffee and decaf blend; their 8-week training programme supports mental health, barista skills, and employment pathways.
  • The Felix Project provides a weekly donation of surplus food from supermarkets and businesses to the Safe Space Café. Using the food to prepare varied and nutritious meals daily, supporting sustainability and combating food waste in partnership with the charity.
  • The Castle Garden, a community garden in Stoke Newington, provides fresh, organic produce. This collaboration supports local sustainability efforts by using seasonally grown produce within a 5-mile radius, promoting awareness of sustainable urban food consumption while offering volunteering opportunities and food-growing skills training.

Mindful Barista training programme

The Safe Space Cafe also offers a 12-week training programme called ‘Mindful Barista’. This programme supports volunteers in developing skills and gaining work experience at the cafe.

Find out more about Mindful Barista