Another of Dorset’s much-loved Jailhouse cafés is set to close, marking the end of a project that combined community dining with prisoner rehabilitation.
The board of trustees of Expia Limited, the charity behind the Jailhouse Café at HMP The Verne, has confirmed that the café will close permanently on 31 January 2026. Trustees said the decision was taken with “considerable regret” after it became clear that the café building would require extensive and costly works to meet current legislation — funding the charity simply does not have.
In a statement, Expia thanked customers for their long-standing support. “We would like to thank you for all your custom over the years supporting us at the café,” the charity said, paying tribute to the local community that helped sustain the project for so long.
While the closure brings an end to one chapter, Expia stressed that it is not withdrawing entirely from Dorset. The Jailhouse Diner at The Grove will remain open, and the charity says it looks forward to welcoming customers there in the future.
Changes are also planned for the Jailhouse farm shop, which will be rebranded as the Jailhouse Gift Shop. Located behind the Diner in the Governor’s Garden, the revamped shop will stock popular Jailhouse-branded items such as jams, chutneys and aprons, alongside prison-made goods, plants and flowers. Expia hopes to open the gift shop within the next few months.
The closure follows the recent shutdown of the Guys Marsh Prison café, another Expia-run project with a strong community focus. That café was established to help prisoners develop hospitality and catering skills, giving them practical experience to improve their chances of finding work after release.
Before the pandemic, members of the public were encouraged to dine at the café, and it built up a loyal local following. Like many community hospitality ventures, however, it struggled to recover fully after Covid-19. The café closed last Friday, bringing an abrupt end to a scheme that had been widely praised for its social impact.
In a statement featured in The Alfred Report, Rachel Barton, a manager at Expia, explained that the service was no longer financially viable. Rising costs, reduced footfall and the expense of maintaining prison-based facilities had all contributed to the decision. Despite efforts to keep the café running, the charity concluded it could not continue without risking its wider work.
The loss of another Jailhouse café will be keenly felt by customers and supporters who valued the chance to combine a meal out with support for rehabilitation and second chances. For many, these cafés were more than just places to eat — they were tangible examples of how prisons and communities can connect in positive, practical ways.
As Expia refocuses its efforts on the remaining Diner and the new Gift Shop, the closures serve as a reminder of how fragile community-based social enterprises can be, particularly when faced with tightening regulations and limited funding.
