THERE can be few towns in Britain of a similar size to Skipton with a wider choice of food and drink establishments - or with a wider choice of food and drink.

So it has to be a testament to the quality of cooking and food preparation of the volunteers and staff at the Swadford Centre, on Swadford Street, that it continues to be a welcoming "home from home" for so many Skipton folk.

The centre, run as a charity on not-for-profit lines, has always concentrated on providing a warm welcome and wholesome dishes at a reasonable cost, says manager Caren Lee.

And now, as summer turns to autumn, is the time when it becomes most apparent that all of us love nothing more than the tasty nourishment of delicious comfort food!

Caren explains: "We mostly sell things like paninis and salads in the summer, but as the colder weather approaches customers start to go for stew and dumplings or chilli and rice. There is always a choice of hot meal and soup as well as a wide range of sandwiches. As much as possible is home-made, and it is always fresh - there is always a daily special available.

Caren, who has been manager since May of last year, adds: "We also use local suppliers and local fresh produce as much as we possibly can. The centre has always provided excellent value for money in a pleasant atmosphere and everyone who works here makes sure that stays the same. We care about our customers and we believe that shows.

"The centre is a very friendly place to work and there is a real feeling of community - there are some people who come in almost every day - and we are getting more and more returning coach parties. We try to go the extra mile with everyone."

Enticing those return customers could well be the extremely popular All Day Breakfast - enough to satisfy any appetite, Caren says. For non-meat eaters, staff can always cook up an alternative such as scrambled eggs or an omelette.

For those wanting something lighter there is a good selection of home-made cakes and biscuits to go with a tea, a coffee, or a soft drink.

Outside tables are also adding to the centre's "cafe" ambience, says Caren, who is Skipton born and bred, and now lives just around the corner.

And the centre is more than just a cafe, she adds - it's a unique community resource too, with two upstairs rooms - with hearing loops and wi-fi - for hire, a snooker table, and a selection of newspapers. The centre is also available for parties, for which buffets can be provided.

Caren adds: "The centre is a base for the Skipton Puppet Festival on the first weekend in October and there are regular groups that use the rooms. Rentals of these rooms, donations and profits from the cafe are the only sources of income and we are always on the lookout for new volunteers, even if you can only spare a couple of hours a week."