The planned eviction of a mental health cafe from a community arts centre has sparked anger among supporters and fears for its users.

It follows a sudden notice to quit being served on Cafe Revival by solicitors acting for the Horsebridge in Whitstable.

The cafe's management has been left "devastated" by the unexpected letter, which it says threatens 10 jobs and the well-being of dozens of people, many who suffer with mental health issues.

Deborah Haylett, who is business and development manager for the cafe, which is an outreach of the charity MIND, says it even more "bewildering" because it was only 18 months ago that the Horsebridge invited the cafe to take the space, persuading it to relocate from its former premises in Oxford Street.

The Horsebridge even announced it on social media as "a great opportunity for the Horsebridge and Revival, which allows us to both develop our services and work in partnership with each other".

Ms Haylett says the cafe has been working under a service level agreement but had been hoping a new lease would be approved.

But in a statement released today, Horsebridge bosses says the board has been reviewing expansion plans for the end of lockdown and decided it was "no longer suitable to have a cafe on the site".

It also refutes claims the decision to close the cafe relates to its mental health work.

But in a previous email to Revival its says: “It is important to be clear that we will not be approving any external signage that relates to anything other than the café provision you are under agreement to provide.

"The Horsebridge is an arts centre first and foremost and the café is part of that offer as a friendly, open and affordable space for our community to meet. We are not a mental health service space."

Ms Haylett said: "This sounds like they have had this planned for a very long time. It's an abuse of power, they have kept a lease from us which now allows them to kick us out in the cold, this remains legally dubious and definitely morally wrong.

"We have completely transformed a rundown space, quadrupled the footfall, and have been paying rent in good faith."

"We understood they were obliged to provide a cafe service and moved in on the grounds that it would be a 10-year lease with the security that that provides.

"Our mental health work has not changed, it has not outgrown the space, we have adapted, offer online support, walking groups and have an outreach partnership with Food Friends, which is an off the premises partnership.

Ms Haylett said £30,000 had been invested in the cafe as well as significant time on the move.

"We completely transformed a rundown space, quadrupled the footfall, and have been paying rent in good faith with the expectation that we would be issued with a 10-year lease."

Since the pandemic, Revival has seen an upsurge in residents approaching the cafe for support with many issues, including increased anxiety and depression, unemployment and financial worries, relationship struggles and families struggling with the impact of home schooling.

But the blunt demand from Horsebridge solicitors gives the cafe until March 12 to remove its staff, furniture and equipment from the space.

But the eviction notice has sparked anger among supporters, including More 4 television's Great Pottery Throw Down judge Keith Brymer Jones, who lives in Whitstable and is making special mugs and crockery for the cafe.

He says he is "disgusted" by the treatment of the cafe and joined staff outside the Horsebridge at the weekend to help raise awareness of its plight. A further socially-distanced demonstration is planned on Wednesday.

A petition to save the cafe has also been launched at www.change.org, which more than 400 people have already signed.

In their statement, Horsebridge trustees confirm solicitors have served notice on Cafe Revival.

A spokesman said: "This is currently in the hands of our solicitors so it would be wrong to comment fully at this time.

"Any suggestion that the Horsebridge Arts Centre does not want to be associated with mental health issues is untrue."

"We are, of course, sad to be ending our relationship with Cafe Revival.

"We have always believed that looking after people’s mental health is important, especially at this time, but our building simply isn’t big enough to accommodate the evolving needs of Revival alongside the growing need for community arts-based activities.

"Any suggestion that the Horsebridge Arts Centre does not want to be associated with mental health issues is untrue. Many of our arts-based projects deal with well-being, isolation and loneliness and it will continue to be a core part of our work.

"As an organisation, we also support volunteers and staff members with mental health issues. We have supported Revival with rent-free periods before and during the pandemic and the use of rent-free space outside the designated café area.”

Bosses also stress the termination is not for financial reasons, adding that they plan to use the space to support its core purpose of arts-based community projects.

They also claim that a request to meet the Mind in Bexley board for discussions was turned down, leaving the Horsebridge board little alternative but to seek legal advice.

The building is leased to the Horsebridge Trust by Canterbury City Council.

A spokesman for the authority said: "We understand this issue has caused concern in Whitstable, but to be clear, it is a matter between the Trust and Cafe Revival to resolve. The Trust is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Horsebridge and the cafe is their tenant.

"We had offered to mediate, and indeed this was booked in, but now the matter is in the hands of solicitors for both parties mediation is no longer advisable."

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