The Umbrella Café
Whitstable
About Us
The Umbrella Café is a community cafe for everybody. We’re human (and dog!) friendly. We do coffee, teas and have a good selection of fresh herbal infusions and cold drinks. We are also fully licensed with fair-trade wine and local beer & cider available. Our on toast and breakfast menus are available all day, including our own ‘Full Umbrella’ and our creamy mushrooms on toast. We also have bigger home-cooked lunches and a kids’ menu. Of course, there will always be cake, all baked by us. If you don’t, won’t or can’t do gluten, dairy or eggs you’ll be happy here. If meat is your thing we always have bacon huffkins and a bigger lunch option to choose from.
We’ve got cosy spaces, quiet spaces (with free wifi) and space to chat. We like to think we’re one of the friendliest and most accessible cafés in Whitstable – come with your friends and sit around or come on your own and chat to us!
We are located behind The Umbrella Community Centre, and share their beautiful town garden, with lots of space to sit around in. We run not-for-profit and commit to give back to the Centre.
We all run the café with a love of community, food and people. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do and we are looking forward to seeing you soon,
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About Caroline
I was born in Whitstable and am so pleased to be back here, after a stint living in Cambridge, helping to run the community cafe. I have done many different jobs in the past, including being the first wren at sea! The Navy couldn’t keep me, but I feel really comfortable being at the helm of such a vibrant and friendly community café.
About Jenny
A recent major life re-evaluation threw me into the Umbrella Café in 2016, after over 30 years of working in London and provincial hotel management. I am passionate about creative cooking and experimenting with food, and running the café has become an important part of my life, alongside my small but perfectly formed family.
About Jo
In a past life I was a nurse on an acute medical ward. Now I enjoy tending to gluten-free pastry and bread recipes, instead of patients. I love helping to organise the community and fundraising events and being part of the kitchen team.