A SPECIAL cafe in Ventnor was paid a visit by the Bishop of Portsmouth yesterday (Thursday).

Jonathan Frost said he had heard about the Better Days Cafe and wanted to see it first hand.

He had heard the cafe is an inclusion hub for all, offering a warm welcome - literally, a warm place to spend some time if you can't afford the heating at home.

It offers smiles, signposts people in the direction of help available in the community, and gives work experience to anyone who has never worked, or been out of the routine of work for a while, for whatever reason.

It is run by volunteers and receives no funding, except what people donate.

People who can afford to eat there pay their way, and those who can donate a bit more can be assured the next hungry person who comes in will eat for free thanks to their generosity.

The soup kitchen doesn't require a voucher or a referral. People can just ask for the "house special" and they'll get a free sandwich or soup.

People without their own wifi can use the cafe's.

Isle of Wight County Press: Kirsty Chapman runs the Better Days Cafe.Kirsty Chapman runs the Better Days Cafe. (Image: Isle of Wight County Press)

Kirsty Chapman runs the cafe.

She was thrilled to have such a high profile visitor yesterday.

She said: "He was charming, kind and impressed. Shocked that we have zero funding.

"He spoke to some of our volunteers, whose lives have been changed by the cafe.

"He spoke to customers who rely on the cafe. I'm not religious but appreciated his importance in the church.

"He even offered to be our Patron, should we decide to become a charity.

"Thank you to Reverend Hugh Wright and his colleagues from St Catherine's Church in Ventnor.

"No matter our beliefs, our circumstances, our wealth, the only way we can survive and flourish, is as a community. After all, no man is an Island."

Isle of Wight County Press: Pictured at the cafe are Rev Hugh Wright, Bishop Jonathan Frost, Kirsty Chapman, and supporters Terry, Rachel and Jo.Pictured at the cafe are Rev Hugh Wright, Bishop Jonathan Frost, Kirsty Chapman, and supporters Terry, Rachel and Jo. (Image: Isle of Wight County Press)

The Better Days Cafe is a drop-off and distribution point for the County Press's Wight Warmers Knit-In Challenge, which launched today.

Click her for more information about how to join in with the Wight Warmers Knit-In Challenge