A Bermondsey-based woman is being praised by locals for her cafe in the park, which they say is more like a community hub than just a place to eat and drink.
Bell Zeki, who is originally from Cyprus, has lived in the Bermondsey area for 36 years, and before recently had always done jobs in the care sector.
“I used to be a carer,” she said. “I’ve done cleaning jobs too.”
“When I came to this country I had no English. Now, I’m running a business!”
She started up a cafe out of a kiosk in Bermondsey Spa Gardens at the junction of Grange Road and Spa Road around four years ago. Bell’s Cafe sells affordable food and drink, including Turkish dishes like her ‘bestselling’ Lamb Kofte Panini and homemade Mezze.
“I’ve always loved cooking,” Bell said.
“I used to give my food to my friends, and my neighbours and they used to say to me ‘Bell, if you open a cafe, you will be a millionaire.’ I’m still waiting!” she joked.
As well as the food, the community feel is what people come back for.
Wendy Cookson, from Bermondsey, said she has been going there since it opened. “Living here it’s very important to support the local people who are running places like this – and she offers something that no one else does.
“Even if you come on your own, it never feels like you’re alone.”
“This wasn’t anything before – and look what she’s done with it,” Wendy added.
In fact, one of her customers phoned the News and explained what Bell and her cafe had done for her.
“[The customer] came to me one day, and she was crying – so I asked her ‘what’s happened?’ Bell explained.
“She said because of you, I started to come out of the house. For me, that is so so special.”
Bell said she is ‘living her dream’: “I love helping people and this place is everything I love all in one. I’m living my dream at the moment.”
She said the only thing that is missing is a toilet, which she continues to ask the council to install as there are none in the park. “People tell me it stops them from staying longer than they would like.”
This weekend Bell expects to be extra busy as a children’s fun fair returns to Bermondsey Spa Gardens from Friday, March 24 to Sunday, March 26 – CLICK HERE to find out more.
Bell’s Cafe, Bermondsey Spa Gardens, 145 Grange Road, SE1 3EU
