We aim to serve good quality café food at reasonable prices, and we are happy to see that our Visitors Book is full of positive comments!
Jailhouse Café The Verne, Portland, and Jailhouse Café Guys Marsh, Shaftesbury, are run by Expia, a charitable company, and staffed by risk assessed prisoners on day release. We have had hundreds of prisoners placed at the Jailhouse Café The Verne since it started in November 2011, giving the men real work placements and training to prepare them for release.
During the summer we are open every day except Monday. We serve light refreshments between 10am and 3pm and hot meals between 12 and 2pm.
The Jailhouse Cafe within the grounds of HMPYOI Guys Marsh in Shaftesbury opened in March 2013 for staff and visitors to the prison. Shortly afterwards it opened to the public five days a week, and served light refreshments and hot lunches. Recently it has closed again, but we are hoping this will be temporary and we will post when we hope to open again on our website and
The cafes stock a range of merchandise including mugs, t-shirts and bags that all help publicise the project. We are very grateful to customers who carry our bags and wear our shirts, and you can see some of them on our Facebook page.
Our cheerful, friendly cafés provide the perfect setting for a catch up over breakfast with friends, lazy family lunches or meetings with coffee and cake in a relaxed environment. Pop in and get a great meal whilst supporting a worthwhile project. We look forward to seeing you!
We always need volunteers for a wide range of activities and sponsorship for the Jailhouse Cafes and new developments. If you can help in any way or would like to learn more, please contact us:
Expia Ltd at The Community Learning Centre, HMP The Verne, Portland, Dorset, DT5 1EQ.
