A grassroots rugby club has been able to build a cafe thanks to the support of businesses in the area.

Billericay Rugby Club have been unable to host matches at it’s Stock Road home for a significant period, with the coronavirus pandemic wreaking havoc.

The lack of action has resulted in the club seeing funds dry up and bosses were seeking a way to generate income until rugby returns.

The club is now set to open a cafe, when government restrictions are lifted, after renovating a second hand cabin.

The cafe, named the Beehive, is intended to give the parents of youth team members somewhere to relax while their children are battling it out.

However, residents will also be welcome to take advantage of the facilities.

Scott Fisher, who has been president of the club for three years, insists it would not have been possible without the support of the community.

He said: “We have been looking at doing something like this for a number of years, but we felt now was the right time to bite the bullet because of the lack of income due to Covid.

“We had big plans for the cafe but we had to scale those back dramatically because it simply wasn’t affordable.

“After buying a second hand cabin online, which wasn’t anything like the picture, we have been overwhelmed with support we have received from local businesses.”

Read more:

The cafe is still a work in progress, with various jobs still to be completed before being able to open.

“Rotamead, a Wickford-based company, gave us 150 scaffolding boards to build a decking area.

“Howdens designed and gave us a brand-new kitchen as well, while Franke Coffee Systems are providing us with a top of the range coffee machine.

“We have also had numerous other firms offering a helping hand along the way. All of that has come free of charge and we cannot thank them all enough.

“We have estimated that we have received roughly£9,000 worth of freebies, which is incredible.

“Companies like them are heroes within our community because we wouldn’t have been able to undertake this kind of task without them.”

Scott, who has been involved with the club for a decade, hopes the Beehive will give Billericay a vital revenue stream.

He added: “We knew we would need close to invest £10,000 in order to complete the project, but we simply didn’t have that kind of money.

“Thanks to some kind-hearted people, we are able to make our dream of opening a cafe a reality.

“We’re hopeful that it will prove to be a hub for our kids section, with us having over 350 child members at the club, but also somewhere that members of the community will visit.”