The kitchen is based in an old
pub, The Hopbine, which closed on Wednesday 20 February 2019. Six months after the pub closing, in July 2020, and with the ongoing
COVID pandemic, the site was
squatted by a group of 10 to form "The
LockOn". Four months after being squatted, on Sunday 15 November 2020, Cambridge Community Kitchen started distributing food to locals. Meals continued to be served, including on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. In February 2021, Cambridge City Mayor, Cllr
Russ McPherson, awarded the organisation with a "Volunteer of Cambridge" certificate, intending to highlight people who supported the city throughout the pandemic. One member said "''We're like, 'Thanks for your printed out certificate. We're literally doing your job for you.' [Laughs.] Maybe you could, I don't know, give us some money, at least do the thing of feeding people?''". During this period over 100 volunteers worked in "
bubbled" teams and altered the service to be "contact free". == References ==