New café for popular Sheffield beauty spot Whirlow Brook Park
Work has started on site for a brand-new café, with attached public WC, at Sheffield’s Whirlow Brook Park, a popular beauty spot for walkers, local people and families.
Following a recent tender process for a café business in the park, Sheffield City Council, in partnership with the local Friends Group, has appointed The Shelter at Whirlow Limited to develop and run the new facilities.
The new café plans include redeveloping the old bus stop shelter, and expanding it with added space from containers. The new café, The Shelter, will bring together old and new to create a modern facility that protects the heritage of original structural buildings.
Construction work has now begun, with Kube Contractors, RW Roofers and Nathan Wheatley, the specialist contractors working hard to deliver this new café, expected to open in Spring.
Councillor Richard Williams, Chair of the Communities, Parks and Leisure Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “We’re really excited about this development. A café makes a huge difference to park visitors’ experience and we know that this local community has been in need of these facilities for some time.
“Through our Better Parks initiative, we’re able to bring in fantastic developments, like this café, that improve our green spaces, generate vital income for our parks and support our local economy and businesses.
“This project protects and enhances an original feature on site but allows for modern development and growth to make sure we’re providing the very best offer to serve this community and our visitors. It’s a picturesque park and it deserves a beautiful spot for people to sit, relax and enjoy the view.”
Shelagh Woolliscroft, Chair of the Friends of Whirlow Brook Park, said: “The Friends’ Group is thrilled that the café at Whirlow Brook Park is now coming to fruition and we are really looking forward to working with the vendor.
“The public ask us on a regular basis when there will be a café in the park, and we now have some good news to tell them. We hope that it will attract a lot more visitors to come and enjoy this lovely park. It makes our job, as volunteers, even more satisfying seeing more people in the park.”
Chloe from The Shelter at Whirlow Limited said “the vision is to create a community space that will complement the park and provide a space for people of all ages and backgrounds to come along and enjoy a brew amongst the beautiful greenery.
The Shelter will provide a delicious brunch-style menu of locally sourced produce, catering for a variety of dietary options.
Chloe said: “We look to elevate coffee, people and the environment by supporting sustainable practices and bringing the community together.”
An opening date will be announced once this has been agreed.
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