"Even the loveliest dream bears like a blemish its difference from reality..."

A community café in Crouch Hill closed today after serving the community for two years.

FoodCycle’s Station House Café in Stroud Green Road, which opened in August 2010, was forced to close due to a lack of funding.

Oh, dear. Well, many businesses are feeling the pinch.

What was this one's USP?

The restaurant takes surplus food from shops in the area including Budgens and Sainsbury’s. With the help of volunteers, it served meals on a pay-what-you-feel system on Friday lunchtimes.

Oh. I see...

Rosie Gilchrist, of Umfreville Road, a volunteer at the Station House Café said: “It’s a real shame. This has got such a community feel.

“I’m crossing my fingers that it comes back to life”

Helen Messingfield, of Ferme Park Road, who has been going to the café every Friday since it opened, said: “We are very sad that it’s closing. It is such a social thing and nowhere else is London is as cheap as this.

“There is nothing like it in this area.”

I'll note - cynically - that neither Rosie not Helen owned up to what they 'felt' like paying...

But there were others whose attitude as expressed in their statements gave a glimpse into why such a high-falutin' concept couldn't get off the ground:

Lori Kiefer, of Lancaster Road, who has also been coming to the café since it opened two year ago said: “We are now abandoned adult orphans.”

*boggle*

Alice Deville, a mother of one, from the Haringey Ladder, said that she was really sad and disappointed the café is closing down. “It’s the best thing about my week,” said Mrs Deville.

*double boggle*

It's like watching unacclimatised zoo animals trying to make their way in the wild, isn't it?

Catherine Law, of Highgate, said: “As young mothers we rarely get a chance to cook hot meals so it’s great to come here and have great homemade food.”

*throws stapler across the room*