Val McDermid opens CafeLife

Val McDermid has officially reopened the revamped CafeLife community cafe on Cheyne Street.  Dubbed the Queen of Crime, the author has sold over 17 million books to date across the globe and is translated into more than 40 languages. Val met with café customers and fans to sign copies of her books brought along on the day.   

CafeLife is run by renowned local charity LifeCare Edinburgh and all proceeds from café sales go towards the organisation’s vital care services for older people living across Edinburgh. 

Val said: “Every community should have a resource like CafeLife. We’re lucky to have it. The LifeCare centre, and all the vital services provided by the charity, help support serious issues such as isolation and loneliness.

“I’m proud to be supporting LifeCare in its important work.” 

The pandemic forced the café to close its doors to its loyal sit-in customers in March 2020.  The closure was a real loss to the area as CafeLife is the only fully-accessible community café around, offering good value food and drink appealing to all generations and with lots of space for buggies and wheelchairs.  

Opened nearly ten years ago, the team took the opportunity to upgrade the café through the covid-closure. The charity secured emergency funding to revamp CafeLife’s interiors and the kitchen team have spent time creating a new and improved menu to appeal to all tastes and dietary needs.  

CaféLife will be running a series of promotions throughout the coming months to celebrate the reopening and to welcome everyone back.  

For more information about LifeCare visit https://www.lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk/  

And for Val McDermid visit https://www.valmcdermid.com/