The Hub on the Heath opens in Canford Heath

Carole Taylor was told she would be made redundant from her job as a payroll manager but has followed her dream to open The Hub on the Heath.

The café in Canford Heath has been a success since opening its doors, with the 44-year-old saying the response has been ‘insane’.

“They were literally queueing out the door to order food and drink,” she said.

“You just never know if people are going to come. It was so nice that they did.

“We’re just incredibly blessed now that we’re open, people are coming, people are coming back.”

Carole had wanted to open a community hub at the unit in Adastral Square for the past 20 years.

She said it was ‘fate’ that the previous café in the unit, Lounge One, announced it would be closing just one week after she was told she would be made redundant.

• Read more: Lounge One in Canford Heath closes after eight years

Carole said that it was vital that the space remained a hub for the community.

“It’s so lovely to see the space being used, to hear the laughter again and to get to know people. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to do this,” she said.

“Now I feel I’m doing something that might actually be making a difference.”

The café has ‘turned into a family project’, with Carole’s husband Mark and children supporting her through the journey.

The Hub on the Heath will provide a space for the community, partnering with local groups and makers to sell their wares and hold classes.

• Read more: Redhill Park Cafe celebrates launch under new operators

Groups that ran in Lounge One will be returning, and Carole is looking for more that want to use the space.

“I’ve always liked the idea of running a book club, I don’t know if it will happen but it’s there,” she said.

“We’re not complete, we haven’t got our community noticeboard up yet, we haven’t got our book swap sorted, but gradually we’re adding stuff all the time.”

The café opened its doors on Tuesday, August 15 and it is open Tuesday to Saturday each week.  

It is a community interest company, so all profits will be put back into the café.