Café revamp brings new life to hospice

A North Lincolnshire hospice has unveiled a fully refurbished café to better serve patients, families and the local community.

Lindsey Lodge Hospice, in Scunthorpe, has transformed its in-house café following a £25,722 donation from County Durham-based Esh Construction, part of its social value commitments on the M181 Southern Junction scheme. 

The redesign provides a homely, welcoming space for patients and serves as a central hub for families, carer support groups, counselling teams and community nursing staff.

Featuring fresh décor, expanded seating and a flexible layout, the upgraded café can accommodate larger parties and private events.

Officials say the improvements allow the hospice to host external community activities such as Slimming World, increase volunteer engagement and raise additional funds to support patient care. 

They add that the new layout will enable staff meetings and engagement sessions to take place on-site, reducing the need for external venues.

Tom Moody, director of income generation at Lindsey Lodge, said: “We are incredibly grateful for the donation from Esh Construction to renovate our restaurant at Lindsey Lodge Hospice. 

“Nationally hospices across the country are struggling to fund their services. 

“For Lindsey Lodge, only a third of what we do is funded by the Government, which means we need to raise the rest through generous donations, fundraising events and charity retail. 

“We would not have been able to make these renovations without this generous donation from Esh, which will play a vital part in helping to keep our hospice sustainable.”

Andy Poole, catering manager at Lindsey Lodge Hospice, added: “The renovation has been well received by our regular customers, staff and patients. 

“Since we reopened, we have seen a rise in bookings and income for our restaurant. 

“We are incredibly grateful for the support.”

The M181 Southern Junction project, completed on behalf of North Lincolnshire Council, is expected to bring more passing trade, improving the café’s accessibility and visibility. 

In addition to the refurbishment, Esh Construction has donated 16 tablets for patient rooms, allowing video calls with loved ones and supporting wellbeing.

Rachel Hanlon, social value coordinator at Bowburn-headquartered Esh Construction, added: “We are delighted to have been able to support Lindsey Lodge Hospice through meaningful social value initiatives including donations and volunteering. 

“This café is more than just a place to eat – it’s a lifeline for many in the community, and we’re proud to have helped unlock its full potential.

“Our donation has helped Lindsey Lodge begin to create long-term benefits like increased fundraising through commercial use, greater community engagement, enhanced patient experience and wellbeing, and improved operational efficiency for hospice staff.”

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