BedsLife February 2021

Page 15

Ciara Mac Call Photography

Made in Bedford Number 13 In March 2019, a new café opened at 13, St Paul’s Square, Bedford’s first plant-based eco café including a shop selling the work of local artists and makers. From the beginning, the ethos behind the business was to minimise its impact on the environment and to work with and support as many local businesses as possible. ‘The idea was to use reclaimed and reused materials to create the café and shop’ says Rachel Atkinson of Made in Bedford ‘we were fortunate to have the help of local furniture designer Nikkita Palmer, who created a fantastic space using pallet wood and scaffold boards’. The decision was soon made to change the vegetarian menu to 100% plant based. ‘With animal agriculture producing more greenhouse gas emissions than transport, it was the only way to go’ says Rachel ‘we wanted to create delicious homemade food which was ethical and sustainable and appealed to both vegans and non-vegans’.

Up to 25 local makers have a permanent space in the shop at Number 13 and up to 80 artists and makers attend the twice yearly Artisan Fairs in the Corn Exchange, organised by Made in Bedford. ‘We are a big family’ says Rachel, ‘this has been so important over the past year, where our network enabled us to hold together and support each other during the pandemic. We have had to adapt to circumstances but this has brought opportunities to work more closely with other ethical businesses’. Past activities at Number 13 included craft workshops, supper evenings and music events. All of which will resume in the future when possible. With its commitment to working with local businesses, Made in Bedford will be teaming up with Scrumdiddly Kitchen this year to create an exciting new vegan menu. “Working together can only make us stronger’ says Rachel. @madeinbedford @madeinbedford 15


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