A year after advertising for someone to run a new cafe in one of the city’s park a decision has been made.
AdvertisementRosemary on the Park is the operator chosen for the Moor Park cafe.
The former bowls pavilion has been given a makeover and is now ready for the cafe to open.
Run by Kelly Turner she’s planning a ‘pop up’ opening in the late May half-term before a full opening in late June.
Introducing the cafe is part of the Heritage Lottery Funded restoration of the grade-II listed park, the oldest in the city.
Read more: Line up confirmed for dance festival in Moor Park this summer
Councillor Robert Boswell said: “We are very happy to announce we have appointed operators to run the café at Moor Park. It’s an exciting addition to the parks facilities and one that can be enjoyed by all visitors.”
The name of the cafe, Rosemary in the Park, is a tribute to Kelly’s late mother.
The 48-year-old said: “My mum passed away three years ago and it’s that which has allowed me to change career and do this, so I wanted to have something which showed that.”
It’s a big change for Kelly who has spent the last 15 years working for a number of businesses in the importing and exporting sector.
“I’ve never run a cafe before,” she said, “but food is my passion so when I saw this opportunity I wanted to give it a go.
“I’ve now got the keys and we’ll be getting ready for a small-scale opening in late May and then having it fully kitted out by the end of June.
“Seeing the location and the amount of visitors to the park, but also the size of the cafe, means it will be very manageable for me.”
Kelly says she is looking at seven-days-a-week opening in the summer holidays and is still confirming arrangements outside of the school holidays and for winter opening.
One full-time job and a number of part-time roles are being created by the cafe opening and anyone intersted can email kellystefani01@hotmail.com
Work is continuing on the £2.3million restoration project on the park.
Will you be visiting the cafe? What do you think of one opening in Moor Park? Let us know in the comments below