Sodexo is now operating three Combat2Coffee cafés, including Gunner’s Café at Larkhill Garrison and the Ramillies & Blenheim Cafés at Andover.
Combat2Coffee is a not-for-profit community interest company (CIC) founded by Royal Anglian Regiment veteran Nigel Seaman. Its mission is to use coffee as a catalyst for conversation and mental health support for veterans.
Through its barista and coffee roasting training programmes, the organisation also provides valuable employment skills to veterans, prisoners, and ex-offenders, helping them transition back into civilian life.
Seaman said: “The launch of Gunner's cafe is a massive milestone in the growth of Combat2Coffee and supports the message we want to convey. Launching in a military establishment not only offers us the chance to help troops when they are struggling, but also educates them on what we can do for them when they leave the military."
Combat2Coffee patron and former England football captain Terry Butcher attended the opening of the new Gunner’s Café at Larkhill. Butcher, whose son Christopher passed away after a battle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following his service in Afghanistan, is an advocate for mental health awareness among veterans and their families.
Butcher added: “I’m incredibly proud to support Combat2Coffee and its mission to provide vital mental health support for veterans. Initiatives like these create safe spaces where veterans can connect, share their stories, and receive the help they need. As someone who has experienced the profound impact of mental health struggles on a personal level, I know how important it is to have these resources available.”