Café 62 officially opened this week (Monday, 30 June), welcoming locals and visitors to a warm and inclusive space right in the heart of Newport. Located within the Newport Health and Wellbeing Centre at 62 High Street, operated by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (HIOWH), the vibrant new café offers more than just a great cuppa – it’s the latest milestone in the centre’s mission to bring people together and support joined-up physical and mental health services on the Island.
Run by Osel Enterprises Ltd (Outstanding Support, Education and Learning), a local charity supporting people with learning disabilities, mental health challenges and other lived experience, Café 62 serves fresh, healthy, and affordable food and drink. For over 30 years, Osel has supported Islanders with disabilities through social enterprises such as Wight Crystal bottled water, reinvesting profits into projects that create meaningful work and opportunities for people facing physical or mental health challenges.
Much of the café’s menu is supplied by the popular Scarrots Lane Bakery and island-based suppliers. The café was also set up with the help of Island-based suppliers including Betapak, Island Tea and Coffee, and ICR Systems - further strengthening its local connections. The café offers a wide selection of savoury rolls, sandwiches, toasties, and pasties, alongside a tempting range of cakes, scones, and pastries. A full drinks menu includes quality coffees, speciality teas, milkshakes, and soft drinks, making it a welcoming spot for breakfast, lunch, or a relaxed afternoon treat.
The café provides not only a welcoming space for patients, staff and passers-by, but also offers paid employment and work experience opportunities to individuals who may otherwise face barriers to the workplace. NHS staff also benefit from a discount, as a thank-you for the vital work they do. The café has already received interest from community groups looking to use the spacious venue for events and meetings.
Mags Gallop, Café Manager, said, “We want Café 62 to be more than a café - it’s a space where everyone feels welcome. Good food, friendly faces and a relaxed atmosphere are at the heart of what we do.”
“The café’s large glass windows offer views of the bustling high street, while inside the space is bright, accessible and inclusive. Visitors can expect a rotating menu of healthy options, including vegetarian, vegan and allergen-friendly choices, with an emphasis on listening to customer feedback to shape future offerings,” she added.
Lucy Abel, Clinical Director for the Isle of Wight at HIOWH, said, “Café 62 embodies what the Newport Health and Wellbeing Centre is all about - connection, inclusion, and wellbeing. It offers real opportunities for local people with lived experience and creates a warm, social space for everyone who comes through our doors.”
Café 62 is now open, Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm, and looks set to become a key part of the Newport community - serving up more than just coffee, but a genuine sense of welcome and belonging – a place where familiar faces soon feel like friends.