Latest news from Wiltshire Rural Hubs
THE COUPLE behind a community gaming café in Market Lavington are celebrating their first complete year in business thanks to support they’ve received from the team at Wiltshire Rural Hubs.
Neil and Denise Rodwell set up their Retro Relics Games Café after Neil made the snap decision that working on the frontline of care for more than 20 years was now taking too great a toll on his own mental wellbeing.
With the support of his wife Denise, who was already running her own small sewing enterprise from home, the pair took the plunge to rent a unit in their village and turn it into a retro gaming space. This was a huge risk for them given that they have two young daughters aged just 12 and 13.
Nevertheless, they welcomed their first visitors in the autumn of 2023 to a space which housed seven large tables, a board gaming area, a coffee lounge area with a kitchen facility and a small café. Now they’ve just celebrated their first year in business.
Neil said: “Having worked on the frontline of care for more than 20 years I just suddenly realised that I needed to do something else for me and I took a chance. I’ve always been a passionate gamer and thought I could turn that passion into a business. I’m so grateful that Denise agreed.”
The Retro Relics Games Café is situated just off the High Street in Market Lavington in Woodlands Yard. Yet it’s not just about gaming. As the months have gone on, the venue has become a community hub where visitors can game, simply chat, or meet up in groups to aid their own wellbeing and combat loneliness, something which can be challenging in more rural areas.
Denise said: “It’s been wonderful, rewarding and challenging at times but we wouldn’t change a moment. We’ve created a colourful, comfortable and inclusive space for anyone in the community and beyond. We offer mental health sessions, the WI book club meets here, people from a local care home visit often as well as our regulars and visitors for game nights. It’s gone in so many different directions, we look back in astonishment.”
The couple have been supported on their journey by the team at Wiltshire Rural Hubs, which runs free online workshops aimed at supporting rural businesses, social enterprises, and community projects across areas covered by Wiltshire Council. These sessions provide knowledge and support to those thinking of starting a business. for those having just started an enterprise and for those more established and looking to grow.
“We’ve learned so much that we simply didn’t know before,” Denise said. “We thought we were marketing enough, we now know that we were not, not even close. “We were told to focus on our ideal customers and we assumed these would be gamers, and we’ve realised we have several types of ideal customers and gaming is just part of it. We have a supportive community who will now drop in here to get fresh milk, or to spend time and not feel lonely. This whole experience has opened our eyes.
“We’re also considering applying for some grant funding to be able to upgrade some of our tables and our furniture.”
For Neil the future is bright. In 2025, he plans on holding sessions to support men’s mental health through building LEGO; offering a pay-it-forward scheme where customers can pay for an extra drink to support anyone struggling financially. And the most popular games to date are:
- Dungeons and Dragons
- Monopoly
- Scrabble
- Magic – The Gathering
His advice to anyone is:
“Don’t hesitate to reach out and get support from the team at Wiltshire Rural Hubs. When you run a business or start a community project, there’s so much to learn and so much you don’t know yet chances are your own community will support you. People want services where they don’t have to travel for half an hour or an hour to access them – or have to catch a bus.
“This support service, much of which is free, helps you to avoid obvious pitfalls and also sets realistic expectations. Running your own business is rewarding but it’s also challenging,” Neil said.
The Wiltshire Rural Hubs team hold virtual support sessions for businesses based in rural areas in the Wiltshire Council area on a regular basis. The first sessions of 2025 take place on Tuesday January 14, January 21 and January 28 between 10am and noon.
These workshops are part of the Rural Hubs Grants programme, funded by Wiltshire Council and the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Delivered in partnership with the University of Bath, The Future Smiths, and TechSPARK, the programme aims to strengthen rural ventures and enhance their role in local communities. For further information and to secure your place in January, visit https://www.wiltshireruralhubs.co.uk.
Article from Scott Media
