Yellow Submarine has opened in Woodstock's open-air swimming pool

Yellow Submarine, the wonderful Oxfordshire charity that supports and trains those with learning difficulties and autism, has opened a new cafe at Woodstock’s open-air swimming pool this summer, where you can enjoy drinks, milkshakes, smoothies, bakes, cakes and ice cream, seven days a week!

It is also preparing for a long weekend at Truck Festival where its infamous cheese-on-toast tent will be welcoming hordes of hungry Truckers from Thursday until Sunday, who’ll be descending for some much needed nourishment.

“We ran the cheese-on-toast tent last year at Truck for the first time and it was such a success that we are going back this year for more. It’s a different crowd and we always do really well there, but it’s also about spreading the word about what we do,” Yellow Submarine’s Sophie Bradley tells us.

Yellow Submarine at Truck

Having only opened the pool-side cafe on Monday, it’s all guns blazing at the moment for Yellow Submarine, the Woodstock base its third cafe in Oxfordshire (the first is on Hythe Bridge Street, the second in Witney’s leisure centre). So will there be more?

‘We just want to spread the word about Yellow Submarine and the work we do, because the more people who know about us the better’

“Yes we want to expand all over Oxfordshire and are looking for bases in North and South Oxfordshire now, because not only do our cafes provide employment for our trainees but they spread the word about Yellow Submarine and the more people who know about us the better,” she beams.

With six trainees on their books who swap between the three sites and seven more joining in September, Yellow Submarine is going from strength to strength. “The skills our trainees learn here are so transferable and means they can go and work elsewhere with our partners who mentor them in the hospitality industry,” Sophie explains.

“We have had such a lovely welcome,” Sophie adds. “And everyone who comes in has a relatable story, maybe a cousin or neighbour with autism or learning difficulties, and as all the profits go back into the charity, if you buy something here, it makes a real difference.”

So if you’re not heading off to Truck this weekend, anyone fancying a swim accompanied by a cup of coffee, shake, ice cream or slice of cake knows where to go, and non-swimmers are also welcome at the new cafe.

Yellow Submarine in Oxford

And for the Woodstock pool it’s a dream come true, the cafe there having been shut since Covid. “People have been so kind helping us set up here, donating fridges and freezers, there is so much goodwill and support around us and we know from the set up in Witney that this is a model that works, so we are confident,” Sophie adds.

“And it’s already working because we have sold so many milkshakes today (made with real ice cream and real fruit) so we’ve been run off our feet,” Sophie says.

Yellow Submarine at Truck last year

As for the menu, Sophie says she understands its a simple model but they will see what their customers are after before they expand their menu to the soup and sandwiches you”ll find in the Oxford branch.

“Yes there is a new energy around Yellow Submarine and we have such a great team and wonderful trainees. They are our secret weapon and the heart of the business,” Sophie says proudly

Yellow Submarine at Woodstock swimming pool

Yellow Submarine gave us a tray of ‘life changing bakes’ to take home and we can’t tell you how good they were, especially the one with honeycomb and chocolate! So go down and check them out because they are there from 10am-4pm until September when the pool closes for the winter.

“Yes come and see us, say hello, meet out trainees and see what we do. It’s not an elaborate offer but we’ve tried to make it as affordable as possible for the families who venture in. We just want to spread the word about Yellow Submarine and the work we do, because the more people who know about us the better,” Sophie adds.

To find out more about Yellow Submarine go to https://www.yellowsubmarine.org.uk