A family-run café on the Llangollen Canal will ring to the sound of music at a special event being staged as part of its fight back against the closure of a canal.
The Lockside Café at Grindley Brook, near Whitchurch, is staging a music day on the 12th July, bringing together four sets of musicians for an afternoon of harmony.
Free community event
The free community event follows on from the café’s first music day in May— staged to help replace trade lost by the closure of the Llangollen Canal following a breach at the end of last year and which threatened to wipe out a majority of the café’s passing trade.
Jane Beaumont, who runs the café with her son and daughter, Chris and Rachel, tells that the May event had been such a success they were delighted to repeat it:
“Our first music day was such a lift for everyone—customers, musicians and our team—so we knew we had to do it again. These events help bring people back to the café and they remind us what a special community we have here.
“We are doing everything we can to keep people coming and the support we have had from the community has been tremendous. People have come from all over the country to support us."
Music day
The upcoming music day will feature performances from Whitchurch-based folk duo Lacy Cobweb, returning band Chemistry who proved hugely popular at May’s event, North West pop and rock band Twixt and the MoJo Road band.
Since the canal breach, the Lockside team has introduced a programme of markets, themed days and charity events to help offset the loss of boaters and walkers who would normally pass through Grindley Brook during the spring and summer months. Jane added:
Another step forward
“Every event helps us take another step forward, and we’re so grateful to everyone who chooses to visit, even with the canal closed."
The music starts at 12.30pm and the café will remain open until 5pm. More information and event updates can be found at:
https://www.facebook.com/GrindleybrookLocksideCafe/
[Regret but cannot include images. Editor.]