Our Cafés & Bistro

You can buy a hot meal, sandwich, or drink for somebody else who may be struggling by paying for it for them. Our cafes provide food parcels and a warm space to people who may experiencing decisions between heating and eating. This all aids our trainees in feeling part of their local community. Simply tell a member of our team that you’d like to pay it forward.

This is a joint community project between Lily’s and Canterbury Baptist Church to provide a community space and a learning environment for our trainees. This café provides hot food, cakes, sandwiches and drinks on a pay as you can afford basis. This ensures we are accessible to everyone in our community and despite all the recent pressures our trainees still get to serve and learn.

On a Thursday the café provides a community fridge which hands out food parcels to anyone in need. There is no need to book, just turn up and the friendly team will provide you with what you need. Canterbury clothes bank provides a clothing rail which is also on a pay as you can afford basis – keeping clothing out of landfill and providing clothing for people who may be experiencing food poverty.

This site is a registered warm space and so welcomes anyone to join us, be warm and enjoy some delicious cake. Based near Canterbury City Centre the site is easily accessible by public transport and can be accessed easily from neighbouring towns such as Ashford and Folkestone.

This provides a friendly and supportive environment for our trainees where they learn front of house skills such as using the till, clearing tables, taking orders and conversing with customers. They also learn barista skills making coffee and our delicious hot chocolates and preparing food to order. Learning about food hygiene, safe food practices and maintaining a clean working environment. This includes participating in washing up and regular cleaning!

This site is a joint project with Golding Homes based in a café area in their local office. We provide drinks, cakes and light lunches to staff who work in the building.

This site is not accessible to members of the public. Regular customers who get to know our teams result in a friendly and safe environment for learning opportunities. This site is easily walkable from Maidstone East Train station, bus station and the town centre and so it is easily accessible.

This provides a friendly and supportive environment for our trainees where they learn front of house skills such as using the till, clearing tables, taking orders and conversing with customers. They also learn barista skills making coffee and our delicious hot chocolates and preparing food to order. Learning about food hygiene, safe food practices and maintaining a clean working environment. This includes participating in washing up and regular cleaning!