We purchased our premises on Ship Hill in Rotherham in March 2020 with big plans to transform the space into a fantastical Emporium of Stories. The project has taken longer than expected due to the pandemic and the building work involved but we are excited to announce that we are now OPEN! Here’s a little snippet of our Official Opening, thanks to filming wizard, Brett Chapman.
Step through the bright red doors to find an Apothecary filled with quirky products and comforting book nooks. Step a little further and find the Feastery, a story-themed café with delicious treats and snacks. Visit the Source of all Creativity and if you are very lucky indeed (and if you happen to be the correct age) you might just find a little extra through a secret door or two.
We are also thrilled to announce that, thanks to funding from RMBC, we have been able to install a wonderful Changing Places toilet. It is so important to us that we are accessible and welcoming to everyone who wants to access our space and the services we provide, so we hope that this will be well used. Read all about that here.
Alongside work in schools and community settings, we have been able to provide school workshops, Saturday clubs and after-school programmes from the site since November; but only now is it completely ready to fully open to the public.
The shop and the café support the work that the charity does with children, young people and families. The spaces are also available for room hire and events, corporate team builds, and musical and spoken word performances. The charity has recently applied for a license to serve alcohol at special events to maximise the fundraising potential for the charity.
Deborah Bullivant, Founding Director of Grimm & Co said, “We are so excited that we are finally ready to open our wonderful Emporium of Stories. Thanks to the tireless work of the staff and volunteer team, our fabulous designers Lumsden, and all the amazing contractors that have been on site, we are now ready to fling open our doors and we are sure you’ll be impressed! Come and see us now that we are open, and watch out for lots of special events in the lead up to our Festival of Stories in May.”
Lisa Pogson, Chair of the Board of Trustees said “I am so proud to be a part of this charity and to see first-hand all the incredible work that they do. It has been a long hard slog to get to this point and I can’t wait to see the place bustling with beings again – magical or otherwise!”
