WRVS cafe at Kirkcaldy's Victoria Hospital closing down after 40 years

The Royal Voluntary Service cafe is shutting up shop for good on March 26.

It has been a popular spot for patients and staff to grab a coffee, a bite to eat, or read a newspaper over the years.

But, a drop in footfall as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, has meant that it will close its doors for the final time at the end of the month.

Volunteers at the café, which gifted a percentage of its profits back to the NHS, will be offered the opportunity to carry on in other roles – and, and a spokesman for NHS Fife said it looks forward to welcoming the RVS back to the Vic when volunteers return with a traditional trolley service when it is safe to do so.

The cafe was based in the main foyer of the hospital entrance for around 30 years prior to the new build being added before it was relocated upstairs around eight years ago to behind what was once accident and emergency.

The space will now become a designated rest area for hospital staff.

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Andrew Roberts, head of retail operations for the north at Royal Voluntary Service said: “Whilst we are sorry to say that after over 40 years, the Royal Voluntary Service Café at Victoria Hospital will close on March 26, we are pleased to hear that the space will become a designated rest area for the hospital staff to take well-deserved breaks.

"It is heartening to know that our café space will continue to be enjoyed by frontline NHS staff.

“We are working with the health board to identify alternative volunteering opportunities for our valued volunteers and are excited at the opportunity to be able to grow our trolley service in the hospital once Covid-19 restrictions allow us to do so.

"Our volunteers and staff have worked tremendously hard to support those at the hospital and we know their efforts have been hugely appreciated.”

He added: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank them for everything they have done to make the service at the hospital a success.”

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