A restaurant based at HMP Styal in Cheshire offering training and employment opportunities to women at the prison has announced that it will close at the end of July
The Clink Charity, the people behind the scheme say that due to a number of factors including costs and participant numbers, it has been decided that unfortunately the restaurant at HMP Styal is no longer viable at this time, in its current contractual delivery format.
In a statement the charity said that
This partnership has been hugely successful, with many hundreds of qualifications delivered and Clink students trained. The Clink at Styal is also credited as training the first-ever female apprentices to complete a hybrid apprenticeship in custody and the community.
Consistently rated as the best restaurant in Wilmslow and voted Cheshire Restaurant of the Year in 2024, The Clink at Styal has become a firm favourite of the local community, thanks to the combination of its award-winning food and social value.
Donna-Marie Edmonds, Chief Executive of The Clink Charity, said: “The decision not to renew our contract at HMP Styal has been made with an incredibly heavy heart. The Clink Charity’s mission is to reduce re-offending and we have been doing this at Styal, producing outstanding results for over a decade.
“Although the restaurant will officially close this summer, our partnership at Styal will be remembered not only for its landmark training outcomes, but as a beacon of hope where women have sought refuge and rehabilitation. As one of those students puts it: ‘If it wasn’t for my journey at The Clink, I wouldn’t be where I am now.’
Bookings at The Clink, Styal can be made up until 31 July 2025 by clicking the link below:
https://theclinkcharity.org/restaurants/styal?
