Tasty treats in store at Brinton Park pop-up cafe

A range of tasty treats are in store for visitors to Brinton Park this summer as a new pop-up cafe opens its doors for the first time.

The pop-up cafe, which will be run by volunteers, will offer visitors a range of light refreshments prepared by Wyre Forest House chef Lynn Horton on a number of dates - subject to weather - starting on Monday 6 May.

It will be situated in the gazebo near the play area between 11am and 3pm on Monday 6 May, Saturday 18 and Saturday 25 May, Saturday 8 June, Sunday 16 June, Wednesday 22 June, Wednesday 29 June, Sunday 14 July and Saturday 27 July.

The new pop-up cafe will be a welcome feature in the park, which is currently the focus of an ambitious restoration project. The ‘Restoring Brinton Park for future generations’ project, is working to encourage more people to use the park and improve the facilities and activities on offer.

A major consultation exercise has been taking place this year to gather people’s ideas for developing the park and more than 500 people took part in an online survey.

Popular suggestions included developing a new cafe, extending the Sons of Rest Pavilion, improvements to the horticultural centre and reinstatement of the ornamental pond, as well as improved car parking and signage. More information about the survey is available here.

The council received initial support from the National Lottery: Heritage Fund and Community Fund  of £217,700 to plan the restoration project. Wyre Forest District Council has also contributed £25,100 towards the project.

Supporting partners based in the Park; 21^st WF (Brinton Park) Scouts, and Emily Jordan Foundation will be key to the success of the project as well as members of the local community.

The initial funding was to pay for plans to be developed before a final application for a full grant to deliver the work is submitted in February 2020.

Community development manager at Wyre Forest District Council Lesley Fox said: “We’ve had a great response to the public to this exciting restoration project.

“Many people have asked for refreshments to be available in the park in future, so we want to test the water by offering this pop-up cafe on dates throughout the summer.

“The pop up cafe will give us an opportunity to speak to local people and users in the park about the project.

“We need to find out if people will use a cafe, what meals they would want provided, the types of menu and whether they would they use it all year round, even in the winter.”

If you’d like to keep up to date with the project, find Brinton Park Heritage Fund on Facebook and Twitter (@BrintonParkHLF) and website www.brintonpark.com

Anyone who would like regular updates about the progress of the project can sign up to the council’s ‘Things to do, see and visit’ email newsletter by visiting www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/subscribe.

Lesley added: “The pop-up cafe will be dependant on good weather, so I would urge people to check on our Twitter and Facebook pages before visiting on the day to check refreshments are available.”

The photograph shows chef Lynn Horton (left) with Wyre Forest District Council’s community development manager Lesley Fox.