Downstairs / The café

The café

We’re exploring what the café could become and what would best meet the community’s needs.

The green Madhatters shopfront at 19 Town Street — 19 Town Street: the Madhatters shopfront. Photograph supplied by Len Ware.

The existing café room with blue walls and a chequered floor — The café before refurbishment, July 2026.

Ideas to explore

A restaurant or retail incubator?

Could our experience with the retail incubator at 10 Market Place inform a similar offer here? One idea is a restaurant incubator: cooking and management training, followed by support to run a restaurant under the participants’ own brand.

We want to test these ideas with the community and potential partners before deciding how the space should work.

Madhatters with outdoor café tables on Town Street — An earlier view of Madhatters and the pavement outside.

A youth-focused diner?

Would a youth-focused diner be useful here? It remains an option, although the new Town Yard across the road may meet that need.

The former café kitchen before refurbishment — The existing kitchen. Facilities will need to suit each temporary use.

While the plans take shape

Temporary uses for the café

Before refurbishment, we plan to host food pop-ups, workshops, talks and performances, subject to the space being suitable.

See what’s planned

The illustrated Mad Hatter Café hanging sign — The café’s hanging sign. Image supplied by Len Ware.

Propose a pop-up or activity

Want to run a pop-up or activity here? Get in touch.

Tell us your idea