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Our First Cafe Behind Bars at HMP/YOI Feltham

It’s been a while in the making but we are thrilled to finally announce that our first prison cafe is open!

Lock Mess can be found behind bars at HMP/YOI Feltham and is headed up by Social Pantry Chef de Partie, Danny. At the cafe, there are four young offenders who work alongside Danny to prepare food, make coffees and serve prison staff for breakfast and lunch.

The cafe opened in the summer and has already made quite an impact on the inmates, prison staff and Danny himself. We caught up with Danny to find out about his time working behind bars, where he finds inspiration in this unique working environment and how he views his role working with young offenders.

Chef de Partie Danny who heads up the cafe kitchen at YOI/HMP Feltham, pictured at an event

What is the setup?

The setup is a café located within Feltham HMP/YOI named “Lock Mess“. The café serves the officers and staff working within the prison and is staffed by myself along with some of the current inmates I work with. The kitchen is modern and well-equipped, going against all the expectations set by various Hollywood scenes – there are no big slips of sludge served here! I would say it’s no different from all the restaurant setups I’ve worked in, and I try to manage it with the same professional approach I’ve gained over the years.

Is it open to the public or officers only? 

The Mess exclusively caters to the prison’s officers and staff members. Initially, the young men I mentor and train had some reservations about preparing and serving food to the prison staff, always referred to as the ‘guvs’. My role has been to change their mindset and encourage them to focus on preparing delicious dishes without focusing on who the recipients of the food are, like I’ve always been told in restaurants, ‘all customers are a VIP’. 

What’s the Lock Mess menu like?

At present, our main menu features café-style lunch items, including an array of paninis and sandwiches which we make to order. Additionally, we consistently introduce hot “specials” each week, offering a diverse selection of dishes that range from vegetarian options to seafood and meat-based choices. Examples of our specials include Lamb Saag Curry, Prawn Jambalaya, and a Pesto and Pea Lasagne. I also allocate time for baking sessions with the lads, allowing us to create Cakes, Cookies, Flapjacks, and a particular favourite among the Feltham staff, Fudgy Chocolate Brownies. This diverse approach to cooking keeps everyone engaged and excited about coming to work every day, including me!

Danny overseeing the cooking in the Lock Mess kitchen

How have the kitchen team reacted to your presence?

The team has welcomed me with open arms. As a younger chef, I’ve found it easy to relate to and connect with them. They often chat to me about life outside the prison, and in return, I’ve had the privilege of learning about the unique aspects of prison life. Professionally, I avoid viewing them as prisoners and prefer to see them as colleagues. While they think of the officers as their superiors, I choose to ignore their inmate status and treat them as equals. This approach has earned their respect, and as a result we work together as a great team. I have had to get used to being called ‘Sir’ though…

What is your role, and how long have you been in this position?

My role involves mentoring and training the Lock Mess team, teaching culinary skills as well as the ins and outs of working in a professional kitchen. I work closely with them to ensure they get the invaluable experience they’ll need to secure employment outside of prison upon their release. We also have regular sit-down sessions where we review their notes and provide assistance with their NVQ qualifications. After they leave, I will continue to support them by arranging meetings and offering them work experience at Social Pantry, with the hope of them eventually gaining full-time employment.

What are you looking to achieve during your time at this cafe behind bars?

This is a great question and one that each of the lads have asked me individually. My response remains the same: I’m here to make a positive impact. If I can inspire even a single person to shift their perspective and develop a passion for cooking, similar to my own love for it, then I consider my mission a success. Adapting to a prison environment has presented its challenges, but I’m proud to say that I now feel comfortable within this unique working environment. I believe in helping individuals, especially young offenders who are in a vulnerable position. Cooking has been instrumental in addressing my own personal challenges, so if I have the ability to inspire and transform others, I’m here to do it! 

The menu changes weekly to keep the team engaged and constantly learning new techniques

How does the team inspire you?

One instance was our Macmillan cake sale hosted at the Lock Mess. The team baked a range of amazing cakes, cookies and cheesecakes for this fundraiser, which ultimately raised the highest amount in Feltham’s history. Seeing the group effort and dedication of everyone working together to create exceptional food was amazing. The fact that one of the lads had a younger brother who had recently come out of remission made the event even more important. 

How does working in a prison differ from working at Social Pantry HQ?

Every day I remind myself that it is not a conventional work environment, which has provided me with a different perspective on life. I do have to remember to return the knives to the lock cupboard after every shift otherwise the Governor will have it in for me. Being outside my comfort zone has pushed me to improvise, think on my feet and critically assess my own thought processes. I have also found that inclusivity is really important, similar to working at Social Pantry; making sure everyone knows that their job is just as important as the next is fundamental to the setup. From kitchen porters to cleaners to chefs, they are all equal! 

Is the opportunity to work in the kitchen available to all inmates?

Currently, we operate as a small team, carefully selected based on their performance and behaviour. However, we have plans to expand the team to accommodate up to eight inmates which I’m really excited about. We intend to organise a ‘jobs fair’ to showcase what we do at Social Pantry and encourage lads to potentially join the team.

Want to read more about our work with prison leavers? Take a look at our Impact in Numbers!

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