Passfield Social Club is cooking up a storm thanks to a new kitchen paid for in part by the Rural Grant fund.

The club is now offering meals and snacks for the first time after an old storage room was converted into a fully-fitted kitchen.

East Hampshire District Council awarded the club £36,000 from its Rural Grant scheme to go towards the £48,000 project.

The new facility means the venue can now host catered events, such as meetings, weddings and parties, as well as offer evening meals and brunches. The delicious dishes are cooked up by Donna Haig, of local catering company Donna’s Catering.

Julian Small, vice-president of Passfield Social Club, said: “The new kitchen has been an amazing success. It means we can host more local groups and it has helped us grow our membership by more than 30 per cent since it was installed.

“There was obviously a big demand for food at the club and it’s been great to see families coming here to eat together and enjoy the club.”

Cllr Robert Mocatta, EHDC’s portfolio holder for regeneration and prosperity, said: “The kitchen looks absolutely fantastic and I can see that it is being put to regular use.

“It has been a brilliant addition to Passfield Social Club and a great use of our Rural Grant Fund.”

Rural Grants are part of the council’s Grow Up! programme. Funded through the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and aimed at projects that improve local tourism and community cohesion in rural East Hampshire.