After three years of major works to transform Malton’s iconic Wesley Centre, the building is finally set to embark on a new chapter in 2026.

With completion of the current renovation phase imminent, a brand-new café will open early in 2026.

Known as Chapel Kitchen, the new café will be an essential part of the major transformation of the landmark building into a vibrant classical music, arts, and community hub, featuring state-of-the-art facilities.

An extensive programme of classical concerts is also being planned from spring 2026.

Many thousands of concert goers and community users have already been able to use the ‘new’ Wesley Centre in the last year whilst the historic building has been restored and transformed.

The transformation of the 1811 Grade II* listed Methodist church building has been managed by a team led by local resident and former mayor of Malton, Paul Emberley.

Paul Emberley, project lead for the Wesley Centre, said: “Chapel Kitchen will be open from 8am to 4pm six days per week and will be a unique café experience, differentiating itself from other establishments, including its setting in a wonderful iconic space. It will offer great breakfast dishes, mid-morning snacks, light lunches, and delicious bakery products, all using the freshest of local ingredients. We’re dedicated to supporting local producers too, and with a fine choice of freshly brewed coffees and teas.”

The restoration of the Wesley Centre now features a classical concert hall with one of the finest natural acoustics in Ryedale, space for exhibitions, and a year-round programme of arts and cultural events commencing in 2026, with concerts, talks, exhibitions, workshops, and events.

The building is already home to no less than four large community choirs which meet on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings.

Paul added: “Music is the beating heart of the Wesley Centre – and Chapel Kitchen will be a place to enjoy culture too, and local artists are now encouraged to get in touch if they’d like to use our large space, for free. Visitors can expect live music and offers for children to eat free on certain days.”

Chapel Kitchen is now recruiting, and is searching for an innovative chef and deputy, as well as front of house staff and volunteers.

Paul said, “We’re offering competitive salaries for flexible full-time or part time roles. If you want to improve your own work-life balance, you can forget split-shifts too – and it’s an opportunity for a seasoned or newly trained chef and deputy to work in a brand-new state-of the-art kitchen, one of the best of its kind in the region.

“We’re also keen to invite volunteers to train as baristas to help run this exciting new not-for-profit community venture, which will be operated on professional lines.”

Spearheaded by a campaign launched in 2016, the community helped save the Wesley Centre from permanent closure after major structural issues with its roof were discovered, and it was put up for sale twice previously, with no buyers.

Following extensive consultation, which highlighted a lack of community space in Malton, and the rapid expansion of Malton and Norton, a new vision was developed to transform the Wesley Centre into a multifunctional space for the benefit of the whole community.

Paul said: “The Wesley Centre is now making a huge leap forward in its journey. Chapel Kitchen will deliver significant revenue as a café to help ensure the future sustainability of the building.

“As a community hub, The Wesley Centre celebrates diversity, welcoming everyone as they are and is open to all from across the community. Those of all faiths, or those with none, are welcome, and we’re now proud too to be registered to host same-sex marriages.”

The new café is set to become a central hub for local residents and visitors alike.

Overall, the Wesley Centre has invested some £2.5 million in its restoration and transformation works to date, funded by the Methodist Church in Great Britain, through government grants, other grant-making trusts, personal donations, and some loan finance.

Works have included the core restoration and sensitive updating of the large main space as a classical concert venue, including roof repairs and transforming the north wing into commercial office space.

Work on the final phase of the project to reinstate a fully accessible £1.6 million three-storey annex attached to the rear of the Wesley Centre will start as soon as soon as new funds are secured.

The new ‘east wing’ will provide additional meeting rooms and green rooms for concerts, many more toilets on each level, a larger commercial kitchen for banqueting, and will incorporate the reinstatement of a large historic pipe organ.