Sip & Sign at the new Dialogue Cafe

The Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability has welcomed Dialogue Café to its site – a pioneering social enterprise that’s setting new standards for inclusivity and innovation in our community.

Run by skilled deaf and hard-of-hearing baristas, Dialogue Café offers a unique experience where customers are encouraged to place orders in British Sign Language (BSL). For those not yet familiar with BSL, the café provides live interpreters and interactive guides, ensuring that everyone feels welcome and part of the conversation.

The café made its debut as part of the Newham Chamber of Commerce Big Budget Breakfast, held at the Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability. This event gathered local business leaders, community organisations, and policymakers to discuss future ambitions and economic priorities for the Royal Docks.

In the lead-up to the launch, key stakeholders, including Rokhsana Fiaz, Mayor of Newham, and Paul Nowak, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, visited the café, engaging directly with the Dialogue Hub team. They experienced the innovative sign language ordering system in action and saw firsthand how initiatives such as these can support local economic growth and employment opportunities.

Dialogue Café is more than just great coffee and cake - it’s a movement dedicated to accessibility, inclusion, and skills development within our community. By creating a space where language differences serve as connections rather than barriers, the café embodies the innovative and community-driven ethos of the Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability.

This is just the beginning. Plans are already underway for the Dialogue Express Café on the Carpenters Estate in Stratford - an ambitious project to transform a retired train carriage into a vibrant community hub. This initiative will further expand opportunities for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community across east London, strengthening the region’s role as a leader in social enterprise and inclusive innovation.

Opening Hours:

Monday-Thursday: 08:00 – 17:00
Friday: 08:00 – 13:00

Location:

Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability
University of East London, Docklands Campus
4-6 University Way
London, E16 2RD

For further information visit: https://dialoguehub.co.uk/