News
Tuesday 21 April 2009
Opening of new Coffee bar heralds conclusion of £700k refurbishment at Pavilion Gardens
This week, High Peak Borough Council celebrated the end of a 16 week transformation programme at Buxton’s ‘Jewel in the Crown’, the historic Pavilion Gardens. The Council has transformed the Grade II listed building with a £700,000 refurbishment project following nearly two years of discussion, negotiation and consultation. The phased project culminated in the opening of a new coffee bar to complete the package of three exciting and attractive new areas that visitors can enjoy
The first stage was the total refurbishment of the old restaurant, and this re-opened as ‘The Pavilion Café Buxton’ in February. This offers a completely new catering experience to meet the wide-ranging demands of customers, in particular the family market.
Wherever possible, the new menu uses organic, free-range ingredients that are sourced locally and produced in a sustainable way. As examples, the rib-eye steak is reared at Nether Rod Knowle Farm at Eastmoor near Chesterfield, fully accredited by Organic Farmers and Growers Association and the meat is properly matured to further improve its quality, flavour and texture. Lamb used in The Pavilion Café is also farmed locally and grazes on certified organic land at Ashford-in-the-Water.
Many people visit the restored 23-acre historic pleasure gardens designed by eminent Victorian landscape designer, Edward Milner, but they are a firm favourite with family groups. To cater for this market the new Café includes a family friendly zone with a small children’s play area, baby station with self-serve microwave and bottle warmer, soft child-friendly seating and an extensive children’s menu that represents exceptional value for money. The Pavilion Café is one of the only food outlets in Buxton to provide such extensive child-friendly facilities, having taken great care over design and layout so that families can use the area without the worry that they may be disturbing other diners.
March saw the completion of phase 2 of the project with the launch of the multi-faceted ‘Gift Boutique’, which hosts Buxton’s Tourist Information Centre and the ‘Gallery in the Gardens’, the new home of High Peak Artists (previously located in the Pump Room opposite the Georgian Crescent buildings).
This diverse and unique area has been a great hit not only with local users, but also with visitors to Buxton. The Tourist Information Centre is used every year by thousands of visitors to the town, but with the Pavilion Gardens now also offering the Gift Boutique and Gallery under the same roof they find they are visiting a tourist destination in its’ own right. Lots of goods on sale are unique to the Pavilion Gardens, including many gourmet food and drink items, carefully sourced gifts that provide a novel and distinctive choice for any discerning consumer, plus the very best of local arts and crafts from the High Peak.
Open to customers from Monday 20 April, the new Coffee Bar at the Pavilion Gardens will boast coffee to rival anything currently available in the High Peak. Alongside an attractive ice cream parlour (selling local Bradwell’s ice cream) the baristas at the contemporary Coffee Bar will dispense chosen coffee beverages through some of the best equipment on the market - seen in some of the UK’s award-winning coffee outlets. The high-quality Fairtrade coffee and great service we will be offering all add up to a great coffee experience.
Located in the historic atrium of the Pavilion Gardens, the new Coffee Bar has been designed to offer quick, efficient service for customers plus a range of both take-away and sit-in food and drink options. The fresh homemade cakes and extensive sandwich or Panini offer is well suited to customers looking for a simpler, but still high-quality offer while “on the go”, or sitting in, and admiring the surroundings of the 138 year-old Grade II listed building.
Tony Kemp, the Council’s Executive Councillor for Regeneration responsible for the Pavilion Gardens, proposed the improvement programme which he regarded as essential in order to turn around the fading fortunes and poor business returns of the Pavilion Garden. He has been involved with the project since first inception and said today: “I am enormously proud of what has been achieved by the Pavilion Gardens team and everyone who has been involved in this project. I know all the changes have been really challenging, but our staff have risen to that challenge and there is a lively, cheerful atmosphere throughout the buildings that really complements the superb surroundings.
“We carried out important repairs and refurbishments to the much-loved Conservatory last year. This latest uplift to the catering and retail offer, together with the restoration of the Paxton suite next winter to provide a multi-purpose arts, events and conference centre means that we are bringing what was a beautiful, but declining complex of buildings back into full public use as an asset to the town of Buxton and to the Borough of High Peak. If you haven’t been already, make a point of sampling what is now on offer at The Pavilion Café, the retail gallery or the Coffee Bar.”
Note to Editors
On Thursday 23 April at 12.15pm, Councillor Robin Baldry, the Mayor of Buxton, will be conducting the grand opening ceremony for the Coffee bar.
Additional information can be obtained from the Pavilion Gardens General Manager, Terry Crawford or Operations Manager, Rachel Hoodith on 01298 23114