Story

Lime Grove Cafe - made by our students for our students

A student dressed in black stands at the till ordering some food

Written byStudent Communications
Published date 27 August 2026

Lime Grove Café at School of Pre-degree Studies brings graduate-led design, sustainability and student wellbeing under one roof.

The new café space at our Lime Grove campus was created to support student wellbeing and everyday campus life at the School of Pre-degree Studies. Developed internally by UAL graduates , Lime Grove Café brings together sustainable design, reuse of existing assets and contributions from multiple teams across the University, including Accommodation and Commercial Services (ACR), the UAL Archive and UAL Catering in partnership with Baxter Storey, to create a welcoming and sociable environment for students.

A line of people serving food onto their plates — **Lime Grove cafe, 2026, UAL School of Pre-degree Studies, UAL| Photo: Mena Setola**

Serving coffee, cakes, pastries and delicious hot snacks supplied by Baxter Storey, the café not only provides students with a place to pause between classes and eat a healthy meal but it also serves as a social and restorative environment designed to support students at a formative stage in their creative education. The communal tables and flexible seating encourage social interaction and informal study, creating a calm and generous space where students can comfortably spend time throughout the day.

A busy canteen full of staff and students seating and talking and eating at the tables — **Lime Grove cafe, 2026, UAL School of Pre-degree Studies, UAL| Photo: Luca Beckerson**

The project reflects UAL’s creative community through graduate involvement across multiple aspects of the space. The café concept was developed internally by UAL graduates working within the University, with support from a Foundation graduate during the delivery of the project. Artworks displayed throughout the café were sourced from the UAL Archive and were created by UAL graduates, allowing past and present student work to shape the environment.

Furniture used within the space also reflects this graduate contribution. Several pieces have been reused from a previous graduate-led project developed for the university: A collection of bespoke wooden furnishings originally created for a pop-up café at Camberwell College of Arts. Designed and produced by graduates, the furniture was conceived as a flexible set of handcrafted pieces that could adapt to different spaces and uses. By reintroducing these pieces at Lime Grove, the project extends the life of the original work while celebrating the lasting impact of student-led design.

Sustainability and responsible reuse played a central role in the development of the café. Existing bench seating was carefully reupholstered to extend its lifespan rather than replaced, while the café countertops are made from recycled plastic chopping boards produced by Smile Plastics. Together with the reuse of furniture and artworks, these choices demonstrate how existing resources can be adapted to create a refreshed and welcoming environment.

tables and chairs in the empty cafe at Lime Grove — **Lime Grove cafe, 2026, UAL School of Pre-degree Studies, UAL| Photo: Luca Beckerson**

The café fits naturally within the historic Lime Grove building, responding to the building’s scale, daylight and architectural character.

Lime Grove Café opens at the start of term, ready to welcome students at the School of Pre-degree Studies as well as the wider UAL community.

We wanted to work with the building’s original features rather than against them, so we carefully selected materials and colours to highlight elements such as the exposed pipework and original tiles. What makes the project particularly exciting for me is that it combines the art and designs of the UAL graduates: The furniture, artwork, refurbishment design, and even the project management were all delivered by UAL alumni, making the space a real showcase of emerging talent.

— Defne Ayranci Design Concept Team

Our aim was for the café to feel calm, welcoming and easy for students to inhabit. Student spaces don’t always need to be loud or flashy — sometimes what’s most valuable is somewhere that simply feels good to spend time in. By working with reused materials, furniture and graduate artwork from within UAL, the space feels connected to the wider creative community of the University.

— Luca Beckerson Senior Design Project Manager

Portrait style photo showing the newly designed cafe at Lime Grove wooden tables and chairs framed by the leaves of a plant — **Lime Grove cafe, 2026, UAL School of Pre-degree Studies, UAL| Photo: Luca Beckerson**