Located at the heart of The Old School, Emma’s Old School Café is a warm, friendly space serving freshly prepared food, homemade cakes and hot drinks. Whether you’re stopping by for a light lunch, meeting friends or grabbing a coffee between appointments, the café offers a relaxed and inviting atmosphere for all.

What You’ll Find

• Freshly made breakfasts and lunches
• Homemade cakes and bakes
• Barista‑style coffees and drinks
• Eat‑in or takeaway options

The café is a popular stop for visitors exploring the building, attending events or simply enjoying a quiet moment in the village.

Opening Times & Updates

Opening hours, daily specials and menu updates are shared regularly on the café’s Facebook page. Visitors are encouraged to check there for the latest information.

Therapists, Health & Wellbeing

We are home to a diverse and growing community of therapists and wellbeing practitioners. On site you’ll find:

• Play and Creative Arts Therapies
• Specialist training for professionals working with mums and babies
• Therapy and coaching for children, teenagers and adults
• Halo Salt Therapy
• Herbalist specialising in Tibetan Medicine
• Craniosacral Therapy, also offering the Bowen Technique
• Specialist training for professionals working with mums and babies

To find out more about the therapists we have on site and for contact details, please visit the ‘Our Community’ page.

The Old School is home to both a Hair Salon and a Beauty Salon, offering a full range of treatments from experienced, independent professionals based right here on site.

The Old School Salon – Lisa Hinks

Opened in late 2021, Lisa Hinks brings over 20 years of experience in hairdressing. She offers a wide variety of services for men, women and children, from everyday cuts to specialist styling.

Lucy’s Beauties

Lucy’s Beauties is an organic, vegan and cruelty‑free beauty salon offering a wide range of treatments, including facials, waxing, manicures and pedicures. Lucy focuses on natural, ethical products and a calm, welcoming experience.

More information and how to book can be found on the ‘Our Community’ page

Arts, Crafts & Artisans

Our community is home to a vibrant mix of artists and makers, each bringing their own craft, creativity and expertise to the Old School, from working studios to hands‑on workshops.

Resident Artists & Makers

• Two Resident Artists — Working from their on‑site studios, our artists create and exhibit a range of original work.
• Seamstress — Offering bespoke sewing services, alterations and textile craft.
• Photography & Stained Glass — A unique combination of visual arts, blending photographic work with handcrafted stained‑glass pieces.
• Silversmith (Lessons Available) — A practising silversmith offering jewellery‑making workshops and one‑to‑one tuition. Ideal for beginners or those looking to develop their skills.
• Ceramicist (Lessons Available) — Working from a dedicated studio, our ceramicist creates hand‑built and wheel‑thrown pieces and offers regular courses.
• Furniture Restoration — Specialist restoration and repair of wooden furniture, from cherished heirlooms to everyday pieces.

Wash.me Launderette at The Old School

Our on‑site Wash.me launderette offers fast, convenient and eco‑friendly self‑service washing and drying, available 24/7. The external, industrial‑grade machine makes it easy to wash everything from everyday laundry to large and bulky items.

Key Features

• Self‑service, accessible 24/7
• Large‑capacity machines — wash and dry up to 20kg at once
• Eco‑friendly, hypoallergenic detergent included free with every wash
• Quick cycles — washing from 30 minutes, drying from 15 minutes
• Suitable for bulky items such as duvets, blankets, sleeping bags and curtains
• Contactless payment
• SMS alerts to notify you before your cycle finishes
• Secure, locking machines and accessible for people with reduced mobility

We’re pleased to offer a range of wonderful and practical workspaces here at The Old School. Our versatile rooms can be adapted for meetings, training sessions, interviews, workshops, and most other needs. These rooms are available primarily for long‑term let; however, we can offer rental by the hour or by the day in most circumstances.

We also have a large communal space that we hope to develop into a Community Shed — a creative, hands‑on area for making, mending, learning, and sharing skills. If you have ideas for how this space could be used, we’d love to hear them.

Tea and coffee facilities are available, and we’re lucky to have a lovely café on site too.

To find out more, please complete a contact form 

We plan to develop the garden areas around the site, including the beautiful riverside. Plans include a community physic garden inspired by the Chelsea Physic Garden, a sensory garden, a wildlife garden, and a dedicated space for children to play.

We also have a wonderful vintage Massey Ferguson tractor, which we hope will become the centerpiece of Fergie’s Farm — a fun, hands‑on area of interest and exploration for children. It’s still in development, but firmly in our short‑term plans.

If you’re passionate about gardening, wildlife, creativity, or community spaces, we’d be delighted to have you involved. Email admin@oldschoolqueencamelorg.uk to find out how you can help.