Exciting news this week as our much-loved Grub has re-opened following its re-development to create a new on-campus café. With a focus on food and drink from sustainable producers, the Grub, has been lovingly restored to a bright, vibrant meeting space for staff and pupils. It officially opened on Tuesday 16th April.
As well as fresh coffee and tea, sweet and savoury treats and light bites, The Grub offers a menu of cooked-to order, globally inspired brunch and lunch options, as well as a refreshed selection of Malvern’s paninis, which have gained such popularity amongst pupils that between 80 and 100 toasted sandwiches are served each morning break time (and a nod to the popular cheese toasties of the past!).
Formerly the home of the College’s 120-year-old traditional tuck shop, in the Grub’s lifetime it has been used as a pupil common room, a dining room, uniform shop, and even a COVID-19 test centre during the pandemic. The café will maintain some of this history, functioning as a tuck shop during morning break serving light snacks and grab-and-go options. One of the spaces has also been decorated with OM memorabilia.
The Grub’s construction was originally funded by the generosity of our OMs through the Malvernian Society so it is only fitting that this redevelopment has once again been made possible thanks to the philanthropy of our Malvernian community through the Malvernian Society.
Continuing the College’s ambitious plans to make the campus carbon neutral by 2050, the menu includes a selection of products sourced from sustainable food and drink producers including Worcestershire and Birmingham based coffee roastery Coffee Masters. The menu also includes a range of ethically produced juices and iced teas supplied by the brand, Lemonaid. These Fairtrade juices, made with real fruit juice and 40% less sugar are bottled in fully recyclable bottles, with 5% of each sale donated to charity. The Grub will use sustainable serveware where possible including compostable cups and straws as well as encouraging the use of reusable cups across the Malvern College community.
Headmaster Keith Metcalfe said: “Reopening this much-loved, restored on-site café is very exciting for our pupils and our staff. We pride ourselves on providing the best learning environment, and this will not only enhance that but also offer a unique food and drink offering that is not only sustainable but provides a space to socialise, to meet and to work collaboratively.
“We have committed to making our school more environmentally friendly and as such, we have put a focus on working with suppliers who share our commitment to sustainability as well as ensuring that the day-to-day operation of the café has as little environmental impact as possible through the use of sustainable cups.
“I’m delighted that this facility is situated in a building that is so full of character and heritage, with its beautiful period features serving as a stunning backdrop for what we hope will be a real hub for the whole Malvern College community.”
