A NEW community kitchen has received a £100,000 cheque as it opened its doors for the first time.

The Brighton and Hove Food Partnership Community Kitchen, which is based in the Community Base building in Queens Road, Brighton, was opened yesterday with the cutting of a string of garlic.

The partnership’s director Vic Borrill, together with Calum Munro, People’s Postcode Lottery senior community programmes officer, cut the makeshift garlic ribbon to mark the grand opening of the new central space.

Mrs Borrill said: “After a decade dreaming of a central space tailored to our needs, today is like a dream come true.

“In this kitchen our cookery class leaders will have a fully accessible, purpose-built space and all the equipment they need so we can improve and expand our offering, enabling many more people in Brighton and Hove to learn about food, share food and, above all, to enjoy food.

“We know the transformative power that good food can have and we look forward to a healthier, happier city, thanks to the Community Kitchen – and the very many people who helped it happen.”

At the grand opening ceremony, Mr Munro handed over the giant £100,000 cheque to the partnership.

The project has been made possible thanks to funding from the Veolia Environmental Trust, Rampion Fund and the players of People’s Postcode Lottery, with support from the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation.

Mr Oliver’s foundation provided funding for the conversion of the former office space.

The partnership has been using food to influence change in people’s lives for the last 15 years through providing cookery classes, which until now were held in churches and community centres.

Mr Munro said: “I’m delighted to be able to kickstart festivities to celebrate the opening of Brighton and Hove Community Kitchen.

“It’s great to see the culmination of everyone’s hard work to get the project off the ground and I’m thrilled that players of People’s Postcode Lottery are supporting it.”

A crowdfunding campaign also raised a further £27,305 to go towards new equipment for the centre’s teaching kitchen.

Several local firms helped transform the office space into the partnership’s new facility, which will host a variety of cookery courses.