Transition Monmouth is delighted to announce that Monmouth Community Fridge is back up and running following the devastating flooding caused by storm Claudia in November. The Community Fridge reopened on 16 December thanks to the dedication and hard work of a team of volunteers to clean the unit situated in the Stables, within the grounds of Bridges Centre, where the Community Fridge is located.

The Community Fridge aims to reduce food waste by redistributing nutritious food from local businesses and making it available for free. Everyone is welcome and while customers may make a donation towards running costs, it is not obligatory.

Flood water entered the unit when the River Monnow broke its banks, causing damage and resulting in a temporary closure. The flood damaged appliances have been replaced with two new commercial freezers and a commercial fridge. The Community Fridge also gained additional support from Lions Club International to purchase lost cleaning equipment.

The Community Fridge and Monmouth Town Council entered a formal partnership agreement in 2025, which provides longer term funding stability and enables closer working with councillors for the benefit of the community. Funding was also provided from Rotary Monmouth to help towards rent and electricity costs, in recognition of the contribution of the Fridge to the local community.

Having received advice from environmental health officers that the new set up was safe and that the Community Fridge was cleaned to a food-safe standard, the team of volunteers were enthusiastic to reopen without delay. New opening times have been put in place to make the fridge more accessible. The Community Fridge is open six days a week (closed Mondays). The new 9am opening has proved to be very popular, as has the Wednesday opening time of 3pm. Another change is that food is no longer weighed out for each customer, helping with speedier packing for everyone and reducing time spent queuing.

Shortly after reopening, the Community Fridge held a Christmas Eve giveaway – an enjoyable and well-attended evening when customers were able to collect large amounts of short-dated and surplus food before the supermarkets closed for Christmas.

Since then, the Community Fridge continues to provide a much-appreciated service with as many as 42 customers in one day.

Find Monmouth Community Fridge on Facebook or email [email protected]

Find the fridge at Unit 5, The Stables, Bridges Centre, Drybridge House, Monmouth NP25 5AS

Open Tue & Thurs-Sun 9am-11.30am, open Wed 3pm-5pm, closed Monday.

Transition Monmouth was set up into tackle, through community engagement, the myriad problems created by climate change.

Two volunteers started with the Big Green Monmouth Shopper to discourage the use of plastic carrier bags. They were joined by others and planted the Monmouth Community Orchard, held film shows, took over the management of Claypatch Woods in Wyesham where there is a thriving community clearing and improving the area and achieved Plastic Free Monmouth status with its on-going programme of activities with schools and businesses.