Could you run a café in the park pavilion?

MELKSHAM Town Council is inviting expressions of interest for an operator to run a café in the park pavilion at the King George V playing field from Saturday 1st April. 

In a recent public consultation about what should happen to the park pavilion and how the town council could improve the town’s parks and green spaces, the most requested facility was for a commercial café with toilets. Councillors then made visits to other cafés within parks to research how the space in King George V Park could be used. Now, they are asking private businesses to come forward with proposals to run the space. 

The town council says, “This is an exciting opportunity to operate the café and provide hospitality, in a fabulous setting which attracts numerous visitors throughout the year and so is guaranteed a regular footfall. Innovation, sustainability, and collaboration are core principles to this fully- accessible building and the café operator will form a key part of this vibrant community facility.   

“The park is also host to various events throughout the year, including Party in the Park and the Food & River festival, to name but two.  

“The Town Council has a strong focus on high-level personal customer service. The successful café operator will need to take a similar pride in the delivery of a high-quality service in order to contribute towards this much-loved community facility.   

“The provision of healthy and sustainable food with consideration for environmental, ethical, and social issues will also be important. The Town Council are also keen to ensure that local and smaller suppliers can apply for this opportunity.   

“Based on our location and the multipurpose potential of the building, there is the capacity to capture and generate significant trade. Expressions of interest are requested from suitably qualified companies or individuals with a desire to develop and maximize the extensive opportunities that the facility can offer.  

“A specification document will be issued to prospective operators upon receipt of an Expression of Interest.” 

Expressions of Interest should be sent no later than 12 noon on Tuesday 31st January and the subsequent detailed specifications should be returned no later than 12 noon on Tuesday 14th February to Hugh Davies, head of operations at Melksham Town Council, Town Hall, Melksham, Wiltshire, SN12 6ES. Email: hugh.davies@melksham-tc.gov.uk  

Melksham Town Council will evaluate the proposals received and invite prospective operators to present their plans for the operation of the business.