Dialogue Café at UEL: 5,000 Visitors and Counting — Brewing Inclusion in the Heart of Newham
Since opening on 31 January 2025 at the Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability, Dialogue Café at UEL Docklands Campus has quickly become one of Newham’s most inspiring social hubs — where coffee, community, and inclusion blend beautifully.
More than 5,000 visitors have passed through its doors in just five months, many engaging with Deaf and hard-of-hearing baristas and experiencing British Sign Language (BSL) in action for the very first time. The café doesn’t just serve coffee — it serves connection.
Behind the counter, Dialogue Café has trained and employed three Deaf and hard-of-hearing team members, alongside two UEL student barista and five volunteers. The result? A dynamic, welcoming space that fosters empathy, inclusive customer service, and hands-on training in a supportive work environment.
The café proudly serves locally roasted coffee from Union Hand-Roasted Coffee — a fellow Newham-based B Corp committed to ethical sourcing and quality. This partnership underscores Dialogue Hub’s mission to uplift and connect with the wider Newham community — from supply chain to social impact.
In addition to daily café operations, Dialogue Café has:
- Hosted BSL workshops and welcomed corporate DEI groups for immersive learning sessions;
- Participated in over 5 high-profile panel discussions on social innovation and inclusive design;
- Officially joined the list of licensed civil marriage and partnership venues, offering couples a unique, accessible, and meaningful space to celebrate their union.
As an appointed catering provider for the Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability, Dialogue Café continues to break barriers, celebrate diversity, and demonstrate the power of social enterprise to drive employment and education through experience.
Coming Soon to Carpenters Estate
Building on its success in Docklands, Dialogue Hub is now preparing to launch its second Dialogue Café — this time in a converted train carriage located at Carpenters Estate in Stratford. Set to open later this year, the café will bring the same inclusive energy to one of Newham’s most vibrant and evolving neighbourhoods. With a focus on employment, accessibility, and community-led programming, the new site promises to be another welcoming space where local residents, schools, and groups can come together and connect.
Dialogue Hub CIC is proud to lead this initiative, working in collaboration with Newham-based partners, UEL, and the local community. With each cup poured, Dialogue Café invites us all to slow down, connect, and celebrate difference.
Coffee with a cause. Conversations that matter. Right here in Newham.
Dialogue Hub welcomes conversations with local businesses, educators, and community groups interested in partnership, sponsorship, or programming opportunities. To explore how we can work together, please contact info@dialoguehub.co.uk.
