The Key Café, located on Bristol’s Gloucester Road, is a unique initiative providing meaningful employment and training to individuals preparing for or recently released from prison.
As a charity, The Key Café has benefited from the guidance and contributions of numerous influential local figures who have dedicated their time to transforming the initial concept into reality. This project wouldn't have happened without contributions from:
Suzanne Thompson (Founder and Trustee of The Key Charity, The Restore Trust)
Simon Green (Kitchen Shrink, Greens Dining Room, Glass Boat)
Tom Green (Chef Tom Green, The Flavour Smith)
Having collaborated with Simon Green many times over the past 15 years, we were invited to develop the café's logo. The original design, an illustration by a serving inmate, was refined to ensure versatility across applications such as signage and coffee machines.
Quickly gaining popularity, The Key Café has become a welcoming community hub. It is not just a place to enjoy great coffee and food, but also a space that actively champions kindness, second chances, and acceptance. It exemplifies how community-driven efforts can significantly impact lives.
At its core, The Key Café is a social experiment aimed at supporting post-prison reintegration, offering hope and restoring dignity. If successful, it also serves as a potential model for expansion to other cities nationwide.
Congratulations to all involved.
