'An opportunity for something positive' - Unique chance to run beloved Anchorsholme Park café in Blackpool
“When something like this happens it leads to an opportunity for it to become something else more positive.”
The team currently running a cafe in the middle of a park will depart for good at the end of this month - but it leaves an opportunity for new operators to move in.
Community groups or budding local business folk interested in the venture are being urged to come forward.
It comes after a notice went up on the doors of the Brew Café in Anchorsholme Park last week stating “it is with great sadness that we announce that Brew Cafe will close permanently on Friday August 28, 2026.” A window service for ice cream and drinks will continue until August 31.
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The news was met with sadness and dismay on local social media sites - but it turns out this will not be the end of the story. Once the current team leaves, Blackpool Council, which owns the park, will be looking for a new team to run it.
A Blackpool Council spokesperson, said: "As part of the transfer of Blackpool Catering Services over to Lancashire County Council, we are set to outsource the running of Anchorsholme Park cafe, Brew, from September.
“The café will be delivered in a similar way to the cafes at Stanley Park and Solaris Centre, offering an exciting opportunity for a commercial vendor."
The council says interested parties can contact them at [email protected].
The Brew Café first launched in July 2020 when the revamped park was reopened after five years of closure due to an £80 million water project by United Utilities.
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After operating a limited service due to Covid restrictions at that time, the cafe went on to become a recognised community hub and central point to the park.
The park was hit with another major blow in December last year when mindless vandals torched the pirate ship, the central feature of the park’s play area, causing at least £100 000 worth of damage.
However, the Friends of Anchorsholme Park are working on a major five-stage project to rebuild the playground and launch replacement features.
Councillors for Anchorsholme and Norbreck wards are encouraging local, smaller-scale operators to consider coming forward, when the café goes out to tender in the near future.
Ward councillor Anita Cooper, who is chairman of the Friends of Anchorsholme Park, said the announcement about the cafe came as an initial blow but was also an opportunity.
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She said: “It feels like a loss for the community - they’ve lost their ship because of the fire and now they feel they are losing their cafe a well, which is destined to close.
“However, when something like this happens it leads to an opportunity for it to become something else more positive.”
Norbreck councillor Julie Sloman added: “Please do not think when it goes out to tender that you’ve got to be from a big organisation or a ibg public body to be able to tender for this cafe.
“It is one of the crown jewels of Anchorsholme and Norbreck - it belongs to this town and particularly this end of the town.
“So of there are any local entrepreneurs, community interest groups or small cafes out there that want to chance their arm, please do not be put off by the onorous tender paper, we will help.
“If you are interested, please do get in touch.”