New kitchen facilities turn luncheon club around
A Cwmbran luncheon club has celebrated its first anniversary. West Pontnewydd luncheon club now attracts between 20 and 30 people aged 50+, who sit down every Monday to enjoy a healthy three-course lunch for £2.50.
It’s a far cry from the days when poor kitchen facilities hampered any attempts at large-scale catering at West Pontnewydd Community Association Hall.
Support was sought from Torfaen Council’s Healthy Living Initiative and Co-star, however the turnaround in the hall’s fortunes is really down to enthusiastic support from the local community backed by a £10,000 Big Lottery grant, which funded the installation of a modern, functional kitchen in April. The luncheon club has since gone from strength to strength, providing nutritious meals at low prices as well as somewhere for old and new friends to meet up for lunch once a week.
Reg Maidment and his wife, Gwyneth, are regular diners.
“I love the atmosphere here,” he said. “The food is terrific for the price and the crowd that come here are very friendly. We all get on very well together.”
All volunteers will go through Food Hygiene Training to enable them to take over the cooking in the long-term.