Sainsbury’s in Newport is preparing to reopen a cafe within its Foxes Road supermarket, more than a year after the store’s former cafe shut its doors as part of nationwide cuts.
A customer notice has appeared inside the Newport store confirming that work is now underway to prepare the space to “open once again as a cafe”.
The sign apologises to shoppers for disruption and noise expected over the coming weeks while the work takes place.
A source at Sainsbury’s Isle of Wight has told Island Echo that there is currently no confirmed completion date, but it is hoped that work will be finished in early November.
It represents a turnaround for the first-floor space, which has been without its cafe since April 2025.
As previously reported by Island Echo, Sainsbury’s confirmed that its only Isle of Wight in-store cafe would close for the final time on 11th April 2025.
The closure came as the supermarket giant announced plans to shut all 61 of its remaining cafes nationally and cut around 3,000 jobs.
At the time, Labour’s changes to the National Minimum Wage and employers’ National Insurance contributions meant Sainsbury’s had to find an additional £ 140 million, with the increased costs playing a part in the company’s wider cost-cutting decisions.
Following the closure, Sainsbury’s said it was exploring future opportunities for the space and would keep colleagues and customers updated.
Now, more than 16 months later, the latest notice confirms the space is being prepared for cafe use once again.
The notice displayed at the Newport supermarket reads:
“Customer notice. We apologise for any and all disruptions over the coming weeks.
“Unfortunately, the noise is unavoidable as the space is prepared to open once again as a cafe.
“Many thanks for your understanding and cooperation at this time.”
However, Island Echo understands that those at the store are hopeful the work will be completed in early November.
