A FREE tasting session marked the re-opening of Craven Leisure's cafe following a £60,000 refurbishment.

The cafe at Craven District Council's pool and fitness centre in Aireville Park was closed temporarily for the kitchen to be refitted and for a reorganisation of the seating area.

There has also been a change to the menu, with an emphasis on healthy, home cooked food, and a new name for the cafe - to match the new name of the centre - Craven Leisure.

Amy Whitham, catering supervisor at 'Revive' said: “We want to provide home-cooked food, with healthier options; tasty, home-made, wholesome food.

“We’ve had some really good feedback – people seem really pleased. Customers were telling us they wanted something a bit healthier to go with the whole ethos of the centre, and parents wanted to give their children something home-made. We wanted to move away from chips and fried food and we’ve now got some great healthy options for adults and kids too.”

Customers can choose from a range of smoothies, coffees and teas; bacon sandwiches are still on offer but so are yoghurt, berries and granola, porridge pots and frittata. There are hot and cold sandwiches, quesadillas, salad bowls, jacket potatoes and home-made soups, chilli con carne and three-bean vegetable stew, along with a range of homemade cakes and desserts. The children’s menu includes pasta, home-made pizza, sausage, mash and vegetables, sandwiches, vegetable sticks and hummus.

The reception from customers has been positive. Jennifer Lowe, from the Three Sisters care home in Haworth, was visiting with a group of residents from the home.

She said: “I thought the food was lovely, very tasty. We come every week to the disabled swim and we always eat in the café; it’s very friendly.” Her colleague Jennifer Golding said: “I think the new café’s got a very nice appearance and it feels very welcoming.”