Tucked away in Ship Street, the Marwood Cafe and Bar is a firm favourite among coffee-lovers and music enthusiasts in Brighton. Lattes, espressos, and croissants fill the menu, but the quirky cafe will soon be offering #LifeChangingCakes in a bid to show solidarity with EU nationals and those from further afield in the wake of Brexit.
Free slices of the cakes, which are lovingly made by local baker Lois, will be iced with the names of generous Brightonians and given out to EU nationals as an act of unity at a time of uncertainty.
“We don’t want anyone to feel like they aren’t welcome in Brighton just because of where they are from,” explains Emily Watson, head of brand and communication for the Marwood. “Just as the campaign says, we all have friends and loved ones who aren’t necessarily British and just wanted to bring our customers and followers together in a show of solidarity with them.”
The idea is the brainchild of Marwood’s managing director, Harry. Along with the Marwood team, he is aiming to raise £300 in the next 20 days in order to distribute 20 cakes’ worth of free slices to EU nationals. Emily adds: “The message is simple and universal- regardless of your opinion on current politics, everyone can agree that all people deserve to feel safe and welcomed by their community, and everyone loves cake!”
The aptly named ‘We’ll Miss EU’ campaign is run with the support of Right To Remain, a UK-based human rights organisation which provides information to people who might not otherwise understand their rights around immigration law.
This isn’t the first time the Marwood have offered #LifeChangingCakes; they’ve also run cakes for local Brighton heroes as voted for by the public, as well as for the Hummingbird Project. They’ll also be serving Lois’ cakes during UK Coffee Week in aid of Project Waterfall, which brings clean drinking water to coffee-growing communities.
Emily says the reaction to the initiative has been amazing, with dozens of people liking and sharing the cafe’s Facebook post along with really positive comments. “This kind of stuff is why I love Brighton, chose it as my home and will fight tooth and nail to stay here,” wrote one Marwood fan. “This is so fantastic I want to clap,” added another.
However, it’s not over yet. Emily is urging those who like the idea to click the link and pledge £2, which funds one slice. To find out more about ‘We’ll Miss EU’ and to pledge your support, click here.
