At Food Works, our purpose has always been simple – to make sustainable food accessible and affordable for everyone, without judgement or stigma.
Since we began, we’ve used a Pay What You Can Afford model to try to make this possible. For many people, this has helped make Food Works a place where they can eat well, feel welcome, and take part in their community – regardless of their income.
However, over the years, a lot has changed.
Why is it changing?
The cost of running Food Works has increased significantly. Over the past decade, expenses such as rent, fuel and salaries have risen by more than 60%. At the same time, the average contribution for a cafe meal has fallen from around £3 to £1.40.
This gap has put growing pressure on our organisation. While the Pay What You Can model has helped many people, it has also been challenging to sustain. Particularly in our cafes, where we add a lot of value through cooking, hospitality and community space. We are no longer able to cover our costs in a way that allows us to pay people fairly and support our staff and volunteers properly.
To keep Food Works open, fair and resilient for the future, we need to make a change.
What is changing?
We will be introducing fixed prices in our cafes. Our aim is to make our prices more straightforward and fair, without excluding anyone. So what does this mean?
We will continue to offer highly affordable meals and drinks:
- A ‘meal of the day’ for £1
- Regular teas, coffees and snacks for £1
We will introduce some new affordable options, in particular a small portion (for instance for a child) for half price.
We will also introduce some new options and different prices:
- Meals that are not a ‘meal of the day’ will be £2.50
- Barista coffees and specialty teas will be £2.50
- We’ll start introducing some sides when stock is available, for instance wedges or a side salad to enhance your meal.
We are committed to remaining a place where everyone feels welcome and supported.
When is this happening?
We have been working on this and discussing it with our team and volunteers since November 2025. A final decision was made by our board on 29th January this year. We’re aiming to use February to communicate to our customers and supporters about these changes, and make space for feedback. If you have comments, concerns or suggestions, please get in touch via info@thefoodworks.org.
Changes will begin to roll out in March 2026. We’ll keep a close eye on how this works for everyone over the next few months.
How can people still support Food Works?
Those who are able to contribute more will still be able to do so through an optional donation, either over the counter or online. But we will no longer ask you for one every time you make a purchase. These donations will be at your discretion and will help fund things that don’t pay for themselves, such as free kids’ meals during school holidays or support for community food projects.
Thank you for being part of Food Works, and for helping us build a fairer, more sustainable food system together.
