What a month August was! Our Trainees took to the water, welcomed some very special visitors, exhibited their artwork and harvested the results of months of hard work at the allotment.
We also took Level Best out into the community, catered for events across Colchester and launched a refreshing new drink in the café. Here are some of our favourite moments.
TWO AWARDS. ONE IMPORTANT VOTE.
We are delighted that Level Best Art Café has been shortlisted in TWO categories at the 2026 Colchester Business Awards:
Best Community-Led Business
Eatery of the Year
Voting is free, and you can vote for us in both categories. While you are there, you can also support your other favourite Colchester businesses across the publicly voted categories.
Voting closes on Thursday 17 September, with the awards ceremony taking place on Thursday 8 October.
Every vote means a great deal to our Trainees and the whole Level Best team. Thank you for your support!
VOTE FOR LEVEL BEST HERE
ALL ABOARD FOR ADVENTURE
Some of our Trainees enjoyed a fantastic trip aboard Rozmaur, Freedom Boat Adventures’ fully accessible boat.
We spotted lots of wildlife along the way, including a beautiful egret, and every Trainee had the opportunity to take the helm and steer the boat.
It was a wonderful chance to try something new, build confidence and enjoy life on the water. Thank you to Freedom Boat Adventures for giving us such a memorable experience.
PRIDE, PURPOSE AND A BRAND-NEW GAZEBO
Level Best was proud to be part of Colchester Pride at Firstsite, where we offered our handmade goodies to our LGBTQ+ siblings.
A big thank you goes to Colchester Pride and Firstsite for inviting us, and to Colchester Centurion Rotary Club for sponsoring our gorgeous new gazebo. It gave us some much-needed shade on a very warm day!
We had a lovely time meeting so many people, and Trainee Niamh reached an exciting milestone by serving her first customers.
Our Colchester town-centre café and gallery are proudly queer-led and provide a welcoming LGBTQ+ safe space.
HELP ART TAKE ROOT IN COLCHESTER
Plans are being explored for An Art School for Everyone, which would bring affordable art teaching and opportunities to connect with other creatives to people across Colchester, north Essex and beyond.
The founders are currently carrying out a feasibility study and would love to hear what local people think.
Share your thoughts in the short survey
PAWS FOR A PUPPUCCINO
Did you know that our café and gallery are dog-friendly?
Our puppuccinos are proving very popular with our four-legged customers. To celebrate International Dog Day, we created a special treat section in the café, but dogs do not have to wait for a special occasion. Our home-baked doggy treats are available every day.
Bring your canine companion along on your next visit. We are always happy to welcome well-behaved dogs and their humans!
GARDENING ENTERPRISE NEWS
A BUMPER CROP OF GOOD WORK
Harvest season is here, and Allotment Trainees Andy, Simon, Tom and Angus have been working hard to gather the produce they have nurtured throughout the growing season.
Tom unearthed a particularly unusual-looking potato and named it Percy, while Angus took on the important job of taste-testing our eating apples. We are pleased to report that they received his seal of approval!
YOU SAY TOMATO, WE SAY HOME-GROWN
Our Allotment team have also harvested a bumper crop of tomatoes, all grown from seed by our Trainees.
After picking them, the team washed and packed the tomatoes, ready to be sold in our café. It is a brilliant example of the journey our produce takes from seed to shelf, with Trainees involved at every stage.
CAFÉ NEWS
LIFE IS PEACHY
Say hello to our new Peach Iced Tea, made using tea from local supplier Essex Tea & Coffee.
Our Trainees took their taste-testing responsibilities very seriously, brewing batch after batch and experimenting with different strengths until they found just the right balance.
Some versions went down better than others, but the final recipe is refreshing, fruity and just peachy.
Pop into the café and let us know what you think!
ART ENTERPRISE NEWS
BRANCHING OUT
August was Sculpture Month in the Art Studio.
Our Trainees designed, constructed and painted their own botanical sculptures, experimenting with shape, colour and different materials. The finished pieces look fantastic and show just how much creativity has been growing in the studio.
VERY IMPORTANT PIGS
Following our Guinea Pig Show exhibition, we welcomed two very special guests to the Art Studio.
Friend of Level Best Amy brought her guinea pigs, Hazel and Ethal, to meet everyone. This gave our Trainees the perfect combination of drawing, colouring and guinea pig cuddles.
Thank you, Amy, Hazel and Ethal, for such a lovely visit!
POSTCARDS FROM THE MINORIES
The Level Best Art Studio team submitted an impressive 82 postcards, and every one of them was selected for the exhibition.
Trainees, staff and volunteers worked hard to create pieces that were sometimes beautiful, sometimes humorous and sometimes a little cheeky. Every postcard had something interesting to say.
SEASONAL ENTERPRISE NEWS
MAKING THE MOST OF THE SEASON
Our Seasonal team have been busy processing a generous donation of greengages from a local supporter.
The team washed and destoned the fruit, freezing some for future recipes and transforming the rest into an aromatic, Indian-style greengage chutney.
We are always extremely grateful for donations of local produce. If you have a glut of seasonal fruit or vegetables that you do not want to see go to waste, please get in touch. Our Trainees can help turn it into something marvellous.
NEWS FROM THE KITCHEN
A RECIPE FOR A BUSY AUGUST
August was hot, busy and full of variety in the Level Best kitchen.
Our team catered for events and organisations across Colchester, including SENDFest, Firstsite Holiday Club, an NHS garden party, the Mercury Theatre and Colchester Pride.
We also prepared an afternoon tea for ten people and completed plenty of large cake orders. It was a fantastic team effort during one of our busiest months.
Planning an event? We cater for groups of five to more than 100 people from our Colchester city-centre café and kitchen. Local delivery is available in partnership with e-Cargo Bikes Colchester. Find out about Level Best catering
WHAT’S ON AT LEVEL BEST
PHYSICAL SLOP: RAGE, LOVE AND CHAOS
An exhibition by Shart Artfunkle
1 to 29 September 2026
Monday to Friday, 8.30 am to 4.30 pm
Level Best Art Gallery, 26 St John’s Street, Colchester
Find out more about the exhibition
SIP & STITCH
Bring along your latest craft project and enjoy a relaxed afternoon of making, chatting and meeting new people.
The first Thursday of every month
1.30 pm to 3.30 pm
Level Best café and gallery
POTTERY WORKSHOP
‘Make a Pinch Pot,’ led by Lizzie Croucher
Wednesday, 14 October 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm
