The Brink recovery café and dry bar is tucked away on the cobbled avenue of Parr Street in Central Liverpool. The Brink offers a safe space for anyone battling with addiction or just making a choice to live life substance free.
The Brink is funded by The Forward Trust, a national charity that supports people recovering from addiction to reclaim their lives.
The café is sunny, airy and spacious, whilst providing pockets of privacy for more intimate or difficult conversations. They offer affordable, healthy, heart-warming food, to be accompanied by a smoothie, mocktail or comforting cup of tea.
Most importantly, it has an unusually tender and open atmosphere. Most people who walk through the door are likely looking for sanctuary and a friendly face, which The Brink has in spades.
The venue runs, amongst other things, support groups, meditation, sound baths and arts and craft sessions to help soothe the daily anxieties. The venue also hosts music, poetry and theatre events.
The Brink runs as a non-for-profit social enterprise which opened in 2011 and is among the UK’s first ever sober bars. Many of the staff have lived experience of addiction and the café profits go directly back into supporting Liverpool’s recovery community.
The café is family friendly and even offers a ‘pay it forward’ system, where customers can leave money behind the bar for people struggling, who may be in need of a hot drink and some company.
Support services and specialised evidence-based recovery programs are run at the Brink for those who need more in-depth support and for family members affected by the consequences of addiction.
The Brink is a rare and much needed safe haven, that is treasured by Merseyside’s recovery community and beyond.
The Brink café is open 10am till 4pm Monday–Wednesday, 10am till 8pm Thursday-Friday and 11am till 5pm on Saturdays.
Featured image copyright Claire Berry.
