Historic Park Cafe Poised for Community-Focused Revival
A cherished café in the heart of a popular South London park is preparing to welcome visitors once again, marking the end of years of uncertainty. The Wandle Park café in Croydon is scheduled to reopen its doors on December 15, under the fresh management of Glenard Patnelli from Joal Miez Holdings Ltd.
This revival comes after a successful licensing application was presented to Croydon Council, granting permission for the café to sell beer and wine. The original application, which proposed longer hours, was amended following concerns from local residents about potential anti-social behaviour.
From £3.5m Revamp to Pandemic Closure
The café's story is one of initial promise followed by struggle. It first opened in July 2014 as the centrepiece of a £3.5 million restoration of Wandle Park, which remains Croydon's only Green Flag-accredited park. Despite its high-profile launch, the venue never found a long-term tenant after the pandemic forced its closure during Covid-19 lockdowns.
The space, which was briefly occupied by the Reclaim Croydon group before being evicted by the council, is a crucial asset for the community. It not only previously hosted children's parties and charity events but also contains the park's only free, accessible public toilets and the only lit premises on site.
Balancing Alcohol Sales with Community Safety
The approval to serve alcohol was a key hurdle for the new tenant. The licence permits the sale of beer and wine strictly from 10am to 6pm. In a council licensing meeting, Mr. Patnelli moved to reassure councillors and the public that this is not an attempt to introduce a 'bar culture' to the park.
"We are not here to serve alcohol to those who you find hanging around in the park who buy cheap drink from the corner shop," he stated. To enforce this, the café will operate a policy where alcohol can only be purchased by seated diners who are ordering food, with a packet of crisps explicitly not qualifying as a meal. The sale of spirits will be prohibited entirely.
The licence also covers live and recorded music and dance performances, all confined to daytime hours. Mr. Patnelli has committed to making the venue a safe, community-focused space, noting that the presence of a managed café could actually help deter anti-social behaviour. He has already spoken with local police about adding the park to their regular patrol route and will install CCTV for added security.
While no specific events are currently planned, future community activities will depend on securing council funding. The tenant's organisation already runs activities for the council's Holiday and Food Programme, which supports children during school breaks.
A decision on the final licence is expected to be announced next week, paving the way for the café's much-anticipated return and offering a new lease of life for a key community hub in the middle of one of Croydon's most visited open spaces.
