Café Narjis is a safe and welcoming space for people to eat, drink and socialise – a vibrant community hub that welcomes people from all backgrounds. Everyone is welcome to come for tea and coffee, a free lunch, and to make use of our community space.
At Café Narjis, we prepare and serve hot meals for approximately 2,070 clients each month. In addition to providing breakfast and lunch five days a week, tea, coffee, and biscuits are on offer throughout the day for anyone who visits. Our priority is to create a safe, warm environment for all, and the children’s area is full of books and games, providing opportunities for children to play and learn. By providing volunteering opportunities for people to learn new skills and share culinary traditions, we combat isolation with companionship.
Our kitchen is powered by a dedicated team of volunteer chefs, kitchen assistants and cleaners who work together to deliver a high-quality service. Our volunteers come from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures, allowing us to offer a diverse menu featuring multicultural dishes that cater to different tastes and traditions.
One of the most rewarding aspects of our work is hearing clients tell us that a particular meal reminds them of food their mother used to make, or that they haven’t eaten a certain dish for years because they have been away from home. These moments show how food can bring comfort, connection, and a sense of belonging.
Café Narjis also has a strong connection with the Nottingham Refugee Forum garden in which we compost all our green waste. In return the garden volunteers grow a cornucopia of fresh salads and vegetables, which we use in our meal prep throughout the harvest season. Did you know that you can make a mean chimichurri with your (previously) unwanted carrot tops?
Alongside providing over 2 thousand meals monthly to our client community, we operate as our in-house caterer for events throughout the year, such as our annual Voscars event, Christmas Party, Refugee Week Launch Party, and the Resettlement Project’s Eid celebration.
If you are interested in working with us to provide catering for your event, please fill in this form, email to info@notssrefugeeforum.org.uk and a member of our catering team will be in touch.
“The food is so delicious, I would pay restaurant prices for it!”
Tony, General Advice volunteer
“I enjoy this place; it’s cosy and beautiful. I feel welcomed every time I visit.”
Anonymous – Client
Thank you, Café Team, for spicing up our lives and spoiling us with tea, coffee, biscuits and comfort food!”
Nottingham Refugee Forum staff member
“Everything is perfect. This place is full of energy. People who come here suffer with rejection everywhere they go, while in here everyone is smiling”. Saman – A volunteer