CAFE/PAVILION
Café
The creation of a café was an early priority for FoLaR. We didn’t know whether this would be financially viable but envisaged that, if successful, it could form the basis for more ambitious project – a new pavilion building combining a café, indoor recreational space and sports equipment storage (replacing the current containers).
In 2021, we entered into a joint venture with the Council to provide the first ever café on the Rec. Part of the toilet block (which the Council had struggled to maintain in the face of persistent vandalism) would be converted into a café/kitchen space, with new unisex toilets in the remainder of the block.
FoLaR was offered a 5-year lease, to run the café (or sub-let it to someone who would) and look after the toilets.
We opted to sublet the space and are grateful to the two operators (currently Tandems) who have successfully maintained the café over the past 5 years.
The lease expires in Autumn 2026 and the Council has decided not to renew it but, instead, to advertise the opportunity on the open market with the aim of attracting investment in the building as well as generating income for the Council. Those bidding to run the café are being encouraged to improve the building and the service that can be offered. Information on the outcome of the tendering process will be provided as soon as we have it.
Pavilion
The original pavilion which stood on the Rec, near the current café, was demolished in 2010. Two proposals for its replacement were drawn up over subsequent years but failed to achieve the necessary support or funding. FoLaR has commissioned its own design for an attractive pavilion building which aims to maximise income potential and financial viability. However, this proposal is unlikely to make any progress until the end, or near the end, of the new café lease.