Fika Coffee shop's free summer holiday meals for kids are back - and so's its family festival

Fika coffee shop in Childwall is bringing back its free summer holiday meals for kids to help ease the stress on families during the long break.

The Fika Coffee Shop, on Woolton Road, is offering a free breakfast to any child under 16 who may go without a meal due to schools being closed. Owner Anthony Grice first introduced the idea in summer 2021 as everywhere was coming out of lockdown. But he says, with food prices rocketing and families facing huge bills just to cover their living costs, it’s likely to be especially important this year. The offer is open from Tuesday to Friday any time before 12noon and, unlike lots of other meal offers, there’s no need for any other spend.

Anthony Grice from Fika — Credit: Fika coffee shop

“I’ve seen posted all over the internet there are lots of places, especially big chains, doing ‘kids eat free with a full paying adult’ but if an adult can go somewhere and spend £15 on a cheeseburger for themselves then they can afford to buy their kids a meal,” says Anthony.

“Families who are struggling aren’t going to be paying to go out for lunch or for breakfast, it’s a treat they can’t afford. In most places, if you go out for a breakfast it’ll be at least £10 a head, whereas if you went to the supermarket you could make breakfast for a family of six for a tenner so you’re just not going to do that.

“With us, it’s just kids eat free, there are no conditions attached or any catches.

“We started this two years ago, but it’s really never been needed more than now because this cost of living crisis is horrendous. We’ve seen it as a business, with the prices of everything going up and up, and then on top of that there’s the energy bills which are a killer.

“The summer holidays especially are long, it’s six weeks, and that means some parents will be dreading them because there’s just one extra expense after another when things are already tight. I think no child should go without food because the schools are closed so that’s why we’re doing this.”

To make sure there’s no feeling of embarrassment stopping youngsters getting a meal, Anthony says they simply order from the children’s menu, no questions asked.

“To make it easier we have a separate menu for kids on the counter, things like cheese or bacon on toast or a sandwich, crisps and a juice. If they come in with parents sometimes the parents might just get a cup of tea and the kids can choose something from the kids’ menu so then we wouldn’t charge them for that and there’s no need to even mention it being free.”

Anthony’s always keen to support the local community which is why it’s not only the free holidays breakfasts that are coming back this July, so is the Fika Festival.

Last year's Fika Festival — Credit: Fika coffee shop

That’s returning for its second year this Sunday July 23, from 11am to 5pm, at Mosspits school grounds on Woolton Road. With Vistaprint as the main sponsors this year, it’s bigger than before. Hosted by DJs from In Demand Radio, there’ll be around 50 makers market stalls showcasing local small businesses plus a food and drink market including a beer tent and a gin and rum stall. Free bouncy castles and character visits will be laid on for kids, a line-up of live music is on all afternoon and, as a bonus for footy fans, two former Reds players will be making a special guest appearance for a Q&A and autograph/photo session.