Sugar Rush café and Stage Door Arts Academy CIC will remain at the WHSmith building in Ramsgate High Street after a reprieve was agreed.
Last week an 11th hour appeal was made to save Sugar Rush and SDA from losing their new home.
The former WHSmith premises was taken over by Sugar Rush and SDA on February 15 this year with plans to convert the building into a community theatre, café, performance space, speakeasy style bar, studios, offices and more.
The 5,095 Sq. Ft unit was taken on by the performing arts school and community café after the need to move from 66 High Street due to that site being earmarked for demolition and redevelopment.
Since then an army of volunteers and help from local companies has resulted in much of the property being renovated, including creating Salon Du Miel cabaret bar upstairs, co-working spaces, redecoration, new flooring, toilets, storage and a new café area.
Mum-of-two Heidi Moran founded SDA in 2007 and converted it to CIC status last year. She has also run businesses ranging from tepee hire to princess parties and the café which started life in Margate Old Town in 2017 before the move to Ramsgate in 2020.
Sugar Rush was facing having to pay £10.5k to the landlord with just days to raise the amount or be kicked out.
But Heidi says the CIC now has longer to raise funds after the landlord granted a full lease instead of the temporary agreement that was in place.
Heidi said: “The annual insurance has all been paid and we are now ready to do a handful of fundraiser events to get everything paid up.”
Thanking the community for the support received Heidi added that the coffee shop will be open from next week as will community groups, the performing arts academy and baby & toddler group,.
Heidi is now looking to hold fundraising events, and is open to ideas for those, searching for some admin assistance and hopes to get the last of the renovations completed with help from volunteers.
it looks a load of bullshine to me
Really? I mean Really?
Are they going to ask for another reprieve when the rent is due again?
Really glad that all the Ramsgate-dwelling regulars on here will now have an opportunity to try this. Please let us all know what it’s like Andrew, Phyllis, Rees, Nokes, et al.
If its anything like it was at the old site, it’ll be out of date sour coffee, vastly overpriced milkshakes and rude service (whilst overhearing her berate who I assume is her husband whilst on the phone).
The “husband” bit surprises me (if you know what I mean).
I do know what you mean and I’m not shocked you’d be so bigoted.
Bigoted? Because I suspect someone is gay? Checking her FB, looks like I guessed corectly.
Correctly even!
I gave at year max. The whole thing looks totally shambolic. The rent being due shouldn’t have come as a surprise. Why were they begging people to donate to pay the rent at the last minute? Sounds like it’s run by people who don’t know what they’re doing.
some great comments there , it seems people are seeing through this one at last !
Not having a good business brain ,not helping here,get someone in that knows how to do things without a begging bowl policy
Begging on the High Street now acceptable 😂 I’ll save my money for those genuinely in need …
Yet another waste of space in the high street it makes jumble sales look upmarket.
Peter mY I specifically ask why you have mentioned sexuality on this thread
Does this have any bearing whatsoever on the topic in hand?
Why do you think it is even appropriate to mention.
It was “anon” who mentioned the husband. I was merely correcting him/her. Unlike the LGBTblahblahblah obsessives, I don’t give a monkey’s who’s doing what to who.