Malcolm, at the counter of Stables Cafe, Stubbylee Park. (Photo credit: Lee Walsh)

Malcolm is a mainstay within Stubbylee Park’s Stables Cafe, which he runs. He has dedicated 8 and a half years to the cafe and is a key member of staff. Malcolm over the years has proved a worthy member of the team and is popular not only with the other staff members and volunteers alike, but also the general public who come to Stables Cafe in Stubbylee Park.

With hot and cold beverages at affordable costs along with some incredible foods, the cafe has itself been popular with those who know of its existence. The park is very popular amongst dog walkers and people wanting to get out for a bit of fresh air in the local town, but unfortunately, the cafe doesn’t get the recognition it deserves.

Malcolm, however, has decided that, at the tender age of 66, the time has come to retire. Today, we speak to him to get his valuable insights into his running of the cafe over the years as well as what his favourite memories that he’ll take into his deserved retirement.

Malcolm preparing burgers for visitors to the park on a busy day. (Photo credit: Lee Walsh)

Question: What are you looking forward to in your retirement? Any hobbies and interests?

Malcolm: I’m definitely looking forward to spending time with my wonderful wife. I’ll be doing my bit of general gardening and DIY work at home and I have a passion for walking. I’ve also recently taken up fossil collecting and an interest in precious stones, so it’ll be nice to get more into that with the free time.

Question: Will you carry on cooking at home?

Malcolm (smiles): Of course! I love cooking!

Question: Do you have any stories from your years at Stubbylee Community Greenhouses? Particularly Stables Cafe?

Malcolm: To be honest, nothing specific, but it has been a bit of a rollercoaster really. Nothing bad at all about the place, but over the years, we have lost volunteers unfortunately and their memory lives on for sure.

Question: Why did you choose to come here?

Malcolm: Well, it sort of ticked all the boxes for me really. I started in catering at 15 years old and worked for a wine company for a while. I also had a garden centre and worked as a care worker for a long time. All that together, as well as with my own mental health struggles 23 years ago, I wanted to give something back.

Question: A question now that others would like to know, will you be returning in the future?

Malcolm: Absolutely, but only as a visitor! It would be nice to experience what customers experience when visiting. Nothing is certain, but you never know, perhaps I’ll have a cookery course here and teach my own skills to people wanting to take it up.

Question: How did Stables Cafe cope during the pandemic?

Malcolm: It didn’t! Of course, we had to follow all the procedures set in place by the government and couldn’t open which was a shame. It would have been nice to continue the Christmas tradition of cooking Christmas dinner in the cafe. The biggest year was over 120 people being served and from our small kitchen, that wasn’t easy! That all ended during the pandemic and I hope it comes back again in the future.

Question: Is there anything you’d like to add before you sail off into the sunset on your retirement?

Malcolm: Yes, it’s been really enjoyable here. I love everything about Stubbylee and everything it stands for and tries to achieve from the mental health support to the cafe itself. I don’t look at the people here as volunteers, but rather as friends and members of the charity. I love the fact that nobody gets stigmatised. Everyone is a friend and it’s brilliant.

We also went on to speak with Souta Van Wick, the General Manager of Stubbylee Community Greenhouses who explained that Malcolm will be sorely missed in the community and especially the cafe.

Souta: It has been such a journey with Malcolm. An amazing person with whom to work. It all started from a tiny idea in the back of the mind to Malcolm taking it by the reigns and growing the cafe to what it is today - a community social hub.

Malcolm himself has an empathy and understanding that is quite rare. Something unique about him is that there’s a side to him that can just see things. If someone is in need of any support or advice, he’s there like a shot. He’s created the cafe’s culture and ethos and it is such a pleasure to have worked with him these past 8 and a half years.

I’ll definitely be missing his Indonesian dish - nasi goreng - that is just to die for!

The garden at the rear of the cafe is very popular amongst visitors to the park during the summer months. (Photo credit: Lee Walsh)

The cafe has been open in Stubbylee Park, Bacup for 9 years with a lovely outdoor garden for customers to enjoy their food al-fresco style and a warm indoor cafe for those colder months. Given the park’s popularity with dog walkers and others in the local area, the cafe has been key in not only providing visitors with warm and tasty food but has also become a social hub in Bacup with people using the cafe as a meetup location.

cafe; dog; friendly — The indoor area of the cafe at Stubbylee Park is a colourful, dog-friendly cafe serving some of the best food you’ll find in a park cafe! (Photo credit: Lee Walsh)

The front of Stables Cafe. Opening hours during winter: Wednesday-Sunday, 10am-3pm. (Photo credit: Lee Walsh)

The cafe, will run after Malcolm’s retirement with the winter opening times of Wednesday-Sunday 10am-3pm.

All the visitors to the cafe and the volunteers at Stubbylee Community Greenhouses wish Malcolm all the very best for his retirement and hope to see him as a regular visitor to the park in the future during his much-deserved rest!