New community café to open in Leighton Buzzard next week
Tuesday, 16 April 2019
Final preparations are being made ahead of the launch of Café in the Park', an exciting project that will bring the community together at a new café facility in Parson’s Close Recreation Ground, at th
As well as the café providing freshly-prepared and healthy home-cooked food and Fairtrade beverages at reasonable prices, Community Action Bedfordshire’s staff will be at the cafe providing information on local services, community groups and organisations. They will also share opportunities for all residents to get more involved in their local community, to become part of new local networks, or get involved in park activities. The café will provide free Wi-Fi and also a 'Chatter and Natter Table' that will offer a space for people to talk: whether it’s for five minutes while they drink a brew, or an hour of good conversation.
The project has been led by Community Action Bedfordshire, who have contributed £10,167 towards the project funding, together with £113,000 from our Developer Contributions Fund and £7,673 from Leighton-Linslade Town Council who has also provided the facility. The Developer Contributions Fund is money that is agreed between us and housing developers for investment in local community facilities.
Our funding has been used to equip and update the existing kiosk building and provide a canopy at the front. Leighton-Linslade Town Council has funded a storage area to the side of the building and additional tables for the outside seating area, where visitors will be able to sit and relax whilst enjoying quality home-cooked food from the café.
Speaking about the forthcoming opening, Andrew Davie, our Assistant Director of Development Infrastructure, said: "We want Café in the Park to be a community meeting place for new and existing residents, where they can eat healthy and home-cooked refreshments. They’ll be able to sit and relax in the alfresco seating area and share the space within the park with friends and family and others in this lovely open-air setting."
Mark Saccoccio, Town Clerk of Leighton-Linslade Town Council, added that "The café will also help realise a long-held aspiration of the town council to provide a quality facility within our premier park, which attracts over 500,000 visitors a year."
The café location is ideal for commuters and children on their way through the park to work or school; residents enjoying the town council's popular Splash 'n' Play, beach and playground; as well as the many visitors to the park events, such as the May Day Fayre, the Carnival and Music in the Park.
Café in the Park will open at 10am on Thursday 18 April 2019, and thereafter from 8am – 6pm daily. To find out more, to keep up to date with what’s happening, or to volunteer at Café in the Park, follow @cafeintheparklb on Facebook (link opens in new window), Twitter (link opens in new window) and Instagram (link opens in new window).