Park café in Devizes trade has dropped (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Park café in Devizes trade has dropped

6:00pm Saturday 27th October 2012 in News

Devizes Town Council is looking to franchise out the operation of the café at the Park Centre in Hillworth Park.

The centre opened in July as part of a £1.8 million refurbishment of the park.

But a report to this week’s meeting of the town council’s recreation and properties committee shows the café’s midweek trade has dropped off significantly following the euphoria of its initial opening.

The report from council officers said: “At the moment we are just covering costs and a weekly appraisal of the situation remains in place.

“In the last few weeks there has been interest in running the café from three parties, one of which is a small business that specialises in park cafés and is currently running operations in Keynsham and Bath.”

Despite this, use of the park generally has increased and the events run by the Friends of Hillworth Park with the town council have been well patronised.

A Halloween night is being organised for this Saturday from 6pm to 8pm with live music from Pete Lamb’s Heartbeats, food from Vaughan’s Kitchen, a fancy dress competition and traditional games.

Free football coaching begins in the park on Sunday from 2pm to 3pm. On Saturday and Sunday November 3 and 4, the Friends of Hillworth Park are holding a community bulb planting session from 1pm to 3pm.

No experience is necessary but please bring a trowel and gardening gloves.