Shockwaves have gone through the Wokingham community with the news that the Cantley Park café will close.
Owned and run by Wokingham Borough Council, the premises at Cantley Park Pavillion became available to let on the Zoopla website a few weeks ago for £22,000 per year. Now agents Page Hardy Harris has the property ‘under offer’. My Wokingham spoke to the letting agents but were unable to confirm any details about the potential new tenant.
One person who works at the café said: “We are very sad that it will close.” And added: “I don’t understand – it is very busy here at the weekends. We are usually full up on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, not just with sporting events but with people taking walks in the park. They will have nowhere else to go.” And she added that upstairs from the café is a space used by other community groups from around the area that could face looking for new homes.
Cllr Ian Shenton, executive member for environment, sport and leisure at Wokingham Borough Council, said: “Like many local authorities around the county, we face unprecedented financial challenges. It is extremely tough financially for everyone, from residents to local businesses. Councils are no different and not immune to these challenges. We have to ensure frontline services are protected and that we make the best use of
our assets to generate income.
“We’re disappointed that we will be closing the café at Cantley Park, but it is running at a loss, usage is
low and we are unable to ensure opening hours align with the other facilities provided in the park.
However, we are offering opportunities for mobile caterers who could offer a range of seasonal,
temporary or permanent facilities at Cantley Park. This would allow existing park users to continue to
have access to catering facilities.
“We have therefore taken the decision to consider the wider opportunities for the use of the building
and other opportunities to provide catering that are financially more sustainable. We have recently
marketed the unit and had a number of local businesses interested in moving into Cantley Park. The
details of this are commercially sensitive, but we are confident a new business will be moving in shortly.
“Once the legal process is complete, we will have a better idea of timescales for the café closure. Café
staff were informed of these proposals at the end of 2023.”
The advert for the property states Cantley Park Pavillion is a spacious unit across ground and first floors, which is predominantly open plan with the flexibility to be easily divided or opened out further. The unit comes with an abundance of parking including ev charging points. Added features include kitchens on both ground and first floor, a balcony on the first floor and an external paved area to the front for outdoor seating. The premises looks onto the sports pitches which are typically fully booked.
A £1.6 million investment in Cantley was approved by the council in 2020 which included an upgrade to the pavilion.
Wow how absolutely appalling of WBC to be so totally ineffective at running a small business to make it profitable and put the community that use the facilities at the bottom of the consideration pile. 🤯
Vickie Randall more a case of use it or lose it. This is happening to lots of businesses.
Sarah Kerr sadly this wasn’t open much, maybe they could of changed their opening hours as being open in the evenings when football training was on would of given them some extra income
Vicky Louise also, lots of people didn’t know it was there. No advertising or offers to bring customers in.
Sarah Thomas advertising would of helped massively
Sarah Kerr it’s always been busy
Amanda Leader not enough if it’s running at a loss. Using council funds to run a loss making cafe is a luxury WBC can’t afford when they are so badly funded from central government. Hopefully a private business may offer hospitality to fill the gap.
Becky Eytle I’m just very sad loosing shine
Becky Eytle buy they make up the funding with the council tax rates? That’s why we’re on the high list?
Kirsty Moors still needing to make £15million worth of “savings” it’s just not enough. Councils across uk are seriously underfunded by government and council tax just doesn’t provide enough money to fund all the services we need such as adult social care (costs are increasing and astronomical), SEN school revision etc. Lots of councils going bust (not ours thank goodness) and then it means they can apply to up the rates beyond 5%. WBC are trying to balance the books. Things like CIL which they get from new houses etc can only be spent on really restricted projects and not on normal running costs.
Becky Eytle it appears from the article likely to be temporary vans/ pitches selling refreshments with no where to sit.
Susan Lumb I guess if a private business doesn’t take the space on to provide a cafe then that may be the case / lots of sports pitches have the vans now so parents can grab drinks whilst watching their children play sport. If a private business doesn’t feel its profitable then the location may be one that doesn’t get enough footfall for a permanent cafe with large overheads to work,
Becky Eytle in view of the paved seating area now forming part of the lease, it would be a good compromise if WBC provided some seating for those wishing to watch the sporting activities and take refreshments. Not everyone is there to watch kids and presumably not of that age demographic. Some people need to sit or wish to sit. I accept a van selling refreshments is likely to be a viable option at peak times.
Susan Lumb it would be the storage of those items at the end of each day etc if the premises is leased and used as office space.
Becky Eytle benches can be fixed and often are. It’s a park after all and has very few currently. I’m sure a solution could be found.
Susan Lumb great idea – and something that would stand the test of time and ideal resting places for the less mobile.
Becky Eytle and people are competing to take it over so it won’t close, the council shouldn’t be running loss making businesses, rent out the premises, take the income and let someone work hard and make a good income, pay taxes and provide a good service
Becky Eytle hi could you tell me from the official accounts how much this council has lent to other cash strapped councils, (with zero credit rating). I may be wrong. Was this a business let out by the council or where they responsible for the running of it.
The place was very uninspiring as to the offerings, and the opening times. There is no way this place can’t make money.
Peter Foster
Natalie Foster-Watts pathetic
All those exyra houses and flats, where has the money gone? Probably on £100k salaries and contract IT Directors? I wonder how many work from home doing FA?
Pete Sullivan ridiculous 🙄 to think 🤔 we were one of the best places to live
Pete Sullivan money from CIL can be used on infrastructure – not on running costs.
Wendy Champ
Alison Jones
Sarah Colvin really sad about that. Where can we go with my mad dog?!
Alison Jones 😞
They have just brought the Bull in Aborfield? Same owners?
I think you’re getting confused with Jacksons cafe. Cantley Park Cafe is currently owned by WBC
Carole Thompson ohh okay I must be! 🙃
Carole Thompson when say owned, is that run by wdc, or is it let to others to run.
Stephen Daw if you read the article it does say owned & run by WBC
They were closing at the time when Cantley was most busy. Not well planned 😕
Lisa Hones 😥xx
Velolife how about running this place? 😋😋
I use the cafe at least twice a week after walking my dog. It is always busy. The footballers from the Walking Football Groups use it on Mondays and Fridays it is well used on Saturday and Sundays when football is on. It is busy during the school holidays. I agree it has not been well advertised, the staff are lovely especially Sandra and Mihoh they are so friendly and helpful. I agree there have been occasions when the cafe has been closed due to staff shortages.
I hope someone will take it on and keep the staff.
Also wondering what will happen to the toilet facilities and whether they will open them up.At the moment you have to go through the cafe.
I think the closure is very shortsighted and could be a goldmine especially where it is situated near so many new estates.
I hope it is not taken by a business that will be using it as offices so short sighted especially as the council spent money in 2020 doing the place up.
Kay Dunham I suspect the toilet facilities in the main building will be part of the lease. So whoever moves in and operates a business will use them for their staff. I wonder if the changing rooms will remain as part of the sports facilities maybe they have separate loos
Susan Lumb they do have separate loos but they are not always open during the day and not sure if the public can use them, this may change if the other loos are closed, such a shame , if there is a lack of loos it will put people off using the parks especially Mums with children.
Kay Dunham I agree, no doubt portaloos and burger vans will replace the cafe facilities 😂
Susan Lumb that’s what it sounds like
It’s a shame it can’t be run like Binfield Foxes Den – I think this is a Community cafe?
Michelle Fry kimel cafe tendered to do this and use the upstairs space too, but wbc rejected them…
Such a shame. Well used when kids football is on. Surely WBC can do something to help keep it open…
I would have used it more if the price of a coffee included WiFi