More than 300 people descended on Ilkley’s newest cafe at the weekend to see for themselves what’s going to be on offer when it officially opens.

Outside the Box, the re-born venue which supports adults with learning difficulties, promoted the event as a Community Day.

“We were expecting a couple of hundred after previous events had been popular,” said John Thirlwell, one of the organisers. “This was exceptional, and it was particularly pleasing to see such a varied crowd of all ages and abilities.

“I was hosting a dig-in on the Outside the Box allotment just across Bridge Lane from the cafe, and met over 30 people who might want to work in the cafe, who came along and got stuck in to some gardening. In the cafe, dozens of potential volunteers and cafe ‘members’ were signing up as well.”

The cafe will provide accredited training or work experience for those who want it, as well as being a social hub for everyone in the community.

Activities through the day included photographic art sessions, a ‘bake-in’, a pizza party for teenagers, run by students from Ilkley Grammar School.

The cafe plans to open in early June. On May 3, there will be a Race Night at Ilkley Rugby Club, with a family concert at the Clarke Foley Centre with music from the Good Buddies 50s Rock group, hot dogs, pie and peas – fundraiser for the Matugga Orphanage and The Lord Mayor’s Appeal (with proceeds going to Outside the Box) – call (01943) 608854 for details.

The final judging of the Name the Bunny Contest, which was run earlier this month by The Loafer cafe bar, also took place at the weekend.

This contest raised over £50 for the project. The winning name – ‘Binky’ – was picked by Sue Cawood, who will receive the giant chocolate bunny as her prize.