LAMANCHA community cafe's promise to stick with local produce has been honoured with the appointment of their chef.

The Community Hub Café, which was originally built as a school in 1832, closed at the beginning of the year to allow for essential repairs.

It has now reopened with experienced local chef Danny Brown taking over and introducing a new menu which features quality local food such as organic and biodynamic beef, freshly baked bread and rolls and butter from Garvald Home Farm.

And Danny is endeavouring to stick to the local line by sourcing his ingredients locally when possible.

Danny told the Peeblesshire News: “There’s something on the menu to suit everyone, whether it’s a freshly baked scone or cake with morning coffee; tasty home-made soups such as beetroot with chilli; handmade prime organic beef burgers with apple and onion, or the vegetarian option both served with hand cut chips; Panini; baked potatoes and a special children’s menu.”

The school closed in 1984, but the derelict building was rescued and brought back to life by local people and reopened eight years ago as a thriving community resource.

The rural Lamancha community café is a family affair with Danny’s wife Diane involved in its day to day running.

Diane admits she is delighted the new menu is proving popular with both locals and visitors.

She told us: “Quite a few local people pre order their lunch to pick up and take home and we’re getting to know our lovely regular customers.

“I think the customers who travelled the furthest were a lovely family of six from Japan, although I think they may have just found us by accident!

“They photographed everything and as well as coming for lunch, they really enjoyed the great views, garden and the children’s play area.”

The café is open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am until 3pm.

The Hub Community Café also features some local craftwork which is sold with a small percentage of each sale going to the charity.