NEW CAFE

  New café at Erewash Museum 

Erewash’s award-winning museum is to get a swish new café as the popular heritage community hub undergoes a major transformation to attract even more visitors. The refurbishment works will begin next week and will see the new café installed in the main building and connect with the existing museum gift shop. The work will take several days, meaning the museum in Ilkeston – which is usually open three days a week – will be unable to welcome visitors on Thursday 14th March, Friday 15th March and Saturday 16th March.  T

he museum expects to welcome back visitors the following week on Thursday 21 March – with the unveiling of the new café in April to coincide with the Easter school holidays. The revamp is being carried out in partnership with the Friends of Erewash Museum – which is a charity that fundraises to support it. The new café will offer visitors the opportunity to get a drink and a light bite to eat. Erewash council’s Deputy Leader Becca Everett, who is the Lead Member for Community Engagement, said: “The refurbishment comes hot on the heels of the museum becoming home to a life-size statue of a soldier that was made entirely of crochet. It has been attracting crowds to a poignant exhibition called Yarns of Valour – telling the stories of locals involved in conflicts around the world. Our new café will be selling a range of refreshments and snacks alongside the great offering of museum gifts – making it a perfect place to relax and another big draw for our wonderful heritage centre.” 

 Brian Parker, who is treasurer of the Friends of Erewash Museum, said: “The current Old Stables Tearoom is popular but fairly small, especially for big events. The new café at the heart of the museum means there will be more room within the main building alongside the option to reopen the tearoom when more capacity is needed.” 

The Erewash Museum near Ilkeston’s Market Place is open Thursdays to Saturdays from 11am to 4pm. Entry is free.