Lunch service at the Theatre Café will end from the start of the 2026–2027 academic year

From the start of the 2026–2027 academic year, it will no longer be possible to have lunch at the Theatre Café in the Vrijhof. The University of Twente and catering provider Appèl have jointly decided to discontinue the lunch service.

Over the past few years, considerable efforts have been made to make the Theatre Café a more attractive lunch venue. Various concepts were tested, promotional activities were organised, and pilot projects were carried out. At the beginning of 2026, a final package of measures was introduced. Despite these efforts, lunchtime visitor numbers remained below expectations. As a result, revenue, staffing costs, and food waste are no longer in balance, making it unsustainable to continue providing lunch service.

What will change?

• Lunch service at the Theatre Café will end from the start of the 2026–2027 academic year.
• The Theatre Café's evening opening hours will remain unchanged. From Monday to Thursday from 4pm till 9pm, the Theatercafé will continue to be open to visitors.

What’s next?
In preparation for the upcoming tender process, the University will explore new possibilities for the future use of the Theatre Café. At a later stage, users of the Vrijhof will be invited to contribute ideas and help shape the future of this space.