STAFF at Derby Museum say they are thrilled a cafe has finally been installed – after the premises had long been "crying out" for one.
A cafe had been at the "top of museum visitors' wish-list" for many years but, because of space limitations and a lack of resources, it had never been possible.
Now, thanks to the Derby Museums Trust, the venue, in The Strand, has converted its ground-floor ceramics gallery to accommodate a 28-seater cafe. It has also created three jobs.
Janine Derbyshire, visitor services manager for Derby Museums Trust, said: "I have been here for 20 years and the museum has always been crying out for somewhere to offer refreshments but it hasn't been possible until now.
"The Ceramics Gallery is the perfect home for our cafe.
"Not only can visitors admire the exhibits as they sit at their table, the room has large glass panels which look out on to Museum Square, making it very light and airy.
"We are extremely happy to have finally opened a cafe in such a unique and fascinating setting.
"It is introducing more people to the wonderful porcelain in our collection while improving the visitor experience by giving them the one thing they have been asking us to provide for years – a nice cup of tea!"
Staff said the opening of the cafe follows requests from visitors over many years for somewhere to stop and have a break.
Derby Museums Trust, the charitable organisation which operates the city's three museums, made opening a cafe at the Museum and Art Gallery one of its priorities, when it took over control of the venues from Derby City Council two years ago.
Now, a new lease of life has been breathed into the Ceramics Gallery, where its collection includes items from the halcyon days of the Derby Porcelain Company, which produced some of the finest work in Europe from 1750 onwards.
All the profits from the cafe will go towards looking after and promoting the city museums' treasures, which also includes the biggest collection in the world of paintings from 18th-century landscape and portrait artist Joseph Wright of Derby.
The Museum and Art Gallery is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 5pm each day.
For more details, visit www.derbymuseums.org
