Always on
This project successfully funded on 22nd August 2025, you can still support them with a donation.
This project successfully funded on 22nd August 2025, you can still support them with a donation.
We are creating a Community Cafe inside the Carnegie Library. A space where everyone will feel welcome while enjoying a good coffee.
For the past few years the Carnegie Library Hub has been working tirelessly to transform the beautiful Carnegie Library into a thriving community centre. At its heart will be a welcoming new Cafe, opening in June.
A cosy lounge where you can grab great coffee, meet friends, work, study, or host local meetings. A space that feels like home, open to everyone. We’ve teamed up with brilliant local producers like Volcano Coffee, The Flower Lady, and Brixton Brewery, plus ethical brands that share our values, including Karma Drinks, Pip Organic, Holos Kombucha, and more.
Significant investment has already been made by the Hub, Lambeth Council and Sweet Carolina, which will be running the cafe, but we're crowdfunding to turn the space into something truly special that you, our supporters, have asked for.
Over the past two years, we’ve poured our hearts into shaping this space with your ideas in mind. The Council has invested in vital repairs, the Carnegie Library Hub has championed the vision, and thousands have already been spent to make this a reality. Now, we need a final push.
Every donation makes a real difference, whether it's helping us upgrade the coffee machine, buy another comfy sofa, purchase an extra grinder, or building a zero-waste display. We want to open our doors as a fully equipped, best-in-class, inclusive Cafe from day one. With your help, we can.
But if you can’t give right now, spreading the word means the world.
Let’s build something special, together.
Thanks so much for your support, and I hope to see you at Carnegie Cafe soon!
Carolina
Sweet Carolina
The Carnegie Library Hub is a trust established to preserve our historic local library and create a welcoming space for community activities. The Trust's core values include heritage, well-being, opportunity, community, inclusivity and collaboration. We strive to uphold these values through partnerships with local groups and businesses.
Through an open bidding process, the Hub selected Sweet Carolina, of West Norwood, from several competing local businesses due to its strong community response, experience, quality of food, aesthetic appeal and sustainable funding model.
We believe that the inclusion of a café is pivotal to our success in achieving the Hub's objectives. The café will not only generate financial returns but also enhance the overall experience for Hub visitors, encouraging longer visits and greater usage of our beautiful local library. The adjoining Community Lounge will be available for community groups.
Furthermore, the Hub partners with the Libraries Service and the Gym located in the basement to make visits to the Carnegie Library more enduring. We are looking for ways to use the café to attract users from across the building and the community who may not usually have the opportunity to engage.
Thomas Halahan and Beth Prince
Trustees of the Carnegie Community Trust CIO
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made