Radford House – Refillable Van

Radford House in Effingham Street, has been open since Spring 2023, welcoming a huge variety of events to the hall, setting up Chat Time, a weekly free meet-up and socialising event, and hiring upstairs rooms as workspaces and teaching spaces. Ramsgate Town Council, the owners, are keen to reflect strong values of sustainability and have introduced The Refillable Van as a regular shopping opportunity in Ramsgate.

The Refillable Van was set up by Sue and Ian Bates, who are passionate about their family being as eco-friendly as possible. It’s a great idea – a vehicle fitted with shelving, filled with a store cupboard selection of liquid and dry everyday products which are dispensed into shoppers’ own containers. You bring empty jars, boxes and bottles then fill them with as much (or as little) as you wish. You pay for what you need and there’s no extra plastic packaging being used.

The van arrives and the sides and back open to display the goodies. Sue also offers a range of eco-friendly products for sale, from wash cloths to soaps, all sorts of things you might not see generally available.

The van drives into the old fire engine hall, making it much easier on rainy windy days! The van visits Ramsgate on the second and last Monday of each month, opening between 11am – 2pm.

We’re lucky in town to have several eco-friendly businesses including The Wellbeing Shop (part of The Recovery Well) in Turner Street. Owner Sandra stocks and refills the Faith in Nature hair and body products. She also provides Miniml eco-friendly cleaning products and many more eco UK brands for personal use and use in the home. They are open Monday to Saturday, 9am - 6pm and Sunday 10am-4pm.

For more information about using Radford House, or The Refillable Van, please contact radford.events@ramsgatetc.org.uk.

Written by:
Suzy Humphries
Community Engagement and Events Organiser for Radford House