The new Summerhouse Kiosk at Bute Park is set to be officially opened today (July 30) at 4pm.
The launch will coincide with Love Parks Week, giving the perfect opportunity for Executive Member for Sport, Culture and Leisure, Cllr Nigel Howells to officially open the Summerhouse Kiosk.
With Bute Park being one of Cardiff’s most famous green spaces, the new Summerhouse Kiosk will provide much-needed refreshments and public conveniences for park users who make around one million visits each year.
The Summerhouse is situated opposite the Millennium Bridge crossing the Taff between the top of the Herbaceous Border and Sophia Gardens, and has been built as part of the £5.6m Bute Park Restoration project, supported by a £3.1 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The kiosk has an ornate timber frame and uses reclaimed stone from the disused 70s toilet block demolished as part of the scheme at its base.
The new kiosk will serve high quality hot and cold healthy snacks and refreshments all year round. It will provide modern facilities, including wi-fi connections where customers can surf the internet in the tranquil surroundings of the park.
The Summerhouse Kiosk will be run by TTA, a Cardiff-based training company that is also behind the British Military Fitness (BMF) sessions already taking place in Bute Park.
The agency will also be introducing a new walking route around Bute Park which will start from the Summerhouse Kiosk. The new walking map will be available for collection from the kiosk and is open to anyone that would like to participate in the many health benefits walking provides while taking in the stunning park land.
Executive Member for Sport, Culture and Leisure, Cllr Nigel Howells, said: “The Summerhouse Kiosk will provide a much needed resource to the park and I know it will be welcomed by the thousands of visitors who come to the park each year.
“Whether it is an ice cream in the summer or a coffee in the winter, the kiosk will provide refreshment throughout the year.”
Huw Lewis, MBE, Managing Director at TTA, said: “We were delighted to take on the Summerhouse and as we already have a strong affiliation with the park through our BMF classes it seemed like a good fit.
“We have made a substantial investment in the Summerhouse and mobile catering in the park and have an excellent team that take pride in producing high-quality home-made food with a focus on fair trade and low food miles. Our aim is to create a cafe where our customers can expect good service and great food and so far the feedback has been fantastic!”
Jennifer Stewart, Head of HLF in Wales, said: “The summerhouse kiosk will provide the people of Cardiff and visitors to the city with an ideal place to refresh whilst exploring this magnificent park.
“Bute Park is such a vibrant green space that plays a crucial part in the daily lives of Cardiff’s residents, and this latest development is a further enhancement to the overall visitor experience.”
