Food & Hospitality · Corsham
Popular Corsham café closes doors after ten years of service
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
The Little Kitchen in the Martingate Shopping Centre has shut permanently, marking the end of a decade-long fixture for the Corsham community.
A cornerstone of the Corsham community has officially closed its doors. The Little Kitchen, situated in the Martingate Shopping Centre, has ceased trading after a decade of serving local residents, with its final day on Saturday, October 24.
Owner Krisia Ogborne, who has decided to retire, confirmed the closure, describing the decision as a deeply emotional one. The café had evolved into more than just a place for refreshments, often serving as a central hub for residents and a point of contact for vulnerable individuals in the area.
Throughout her tenure, Ms Ogborne became known for her hands-on approach to community welfare. Her efforts included organising meals for local children and acting as a point of contact for the elderly, occasionally arranging welfare checks when regular customers failed to arrive. Her connection to the town was further cemented through her reaction to a 2017 break-in at the premises, where the support from fellow business owners and residents allowed her to reopen quickly despite significant damage.
Ms Ogborne spoke of the profound impact the café had on her life and the lives of those she served, noting that the final day of trade was met with tears from regular customers. She recounted various moments of service, from adapting the business to offer takeaways during the pandemic to assisting in medical emergencies outside the shop front.
I knew the café and myself had a special rapport with all the customers, but seeing customers literally crying in front of me on the last day was heartbreaking to say the least, said Ms Ogborne. I made many friends during my time there and will miss it terribly.
The closure of the premises marks a transition for the Martingate Shopping Centre, and Ms Ogborne expressed her hope that the centre will see renewed success in the future. As she begins her retirement, the business owner reflected on a decade spent embedded in the heart of Corsham, noting that she would miss the daily interactions that defined the café’s ten-year history.
Source: Gazette & Herald — Chippenham · View original