Charity announces closure of prison-run restaurant

The Clink has given inmates at HMP Styal training and employment opportunities

A public restaurant which is run out of a women's prison and operated by inmates has announced its closure after more than a decade.

The Clink, run out of HMP Styal in Cheshire, opened in 2015 to offer training and employment opportunities as a way to promote rehabilitation and reduce reoffending.

The charity said the restaurant would close on 31 July because it was "no longer viable at this time".

Chief executive Donna-Marie Edmonds said: "The decision not to renew our contract at HMP Styal has been made with an incredibly heavy heart."

She added: "The Clink Charity's mission is to reduce reoffending and we have been doing this at Styal, producing outstanding results for over a decade."

The decision to close the restaurant had been made due to factors including costs and participant numbers, the charity said.

Ms Edmonds added: "Although the restaurant will officially close this summer, our partnership at Styal will be remembered not only for its landmark training outcomes, but as a beacon of hope where women have sought refuge and rehabilitation.

"As one of those students puts it, 'If it wasn't for my journey at The Clink, I wouldn't be where I am now.'"

Hundreds of inmates achieved qualifications through the scheme, with The Clink being named Cheshire Restaurant of the Year in 2024.

The charity also runs another restaurant out of HMP Brixton in London.