A voluntary group has praised the recent refurbishment of a 100-year-old pavilion in Becket’s Park, Northampton. The derelict building, which had been empty for several years, has now been transformed into a café for the park. Buddies of Becket’s co-founder, Nick Stephens, expressed excitement about the café’s opening, stating that they had been looking forward to it for years.
The voluntary group, formed in 2016, aims to maintain the park, which is located between the general hospital and Northampton Marina. According to Mr. Stephens, the park needed improvement as it had a bit of a reputation for being overgrown and neglected.
After campaigning for over seven years, leases were finally agreed upon last year by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) for the café and for the voluntary group to utilize the building. The pavilion, originally built in the 1920s as a facility for bowlers, had fallen into disrepair over the years.
The café opened in May and has already made a significant difference to the park, according to Mr. Stephens.
Café owner Iain Hill expressed his satisfaction with finally being able to open the café after nearly 15 years of trying. He saw the potential in the rundown pavilion and believed it was the perfect match for his experience in running pubs, cafés, restaurants, and renovating properties.
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