Relief for townsfolk as cafe set to reopen

Townsfolk in Hawick will soon be able to enjoy a cuppa and spend a penny again as the cafe in Wilton Lodge Park prepares to reopen.
The Refresh Pavilion Cafe at Hawick's Wilton Lodge Park.The Refresh Pavilion Cafe at Hawick's Wilton Lodge Park.
The Refresh Pavilion Cafe at Hawick's Wilton Lodge Park.

Visitors to the Victorian park have been left without anywhere to enjoy a coffee or tea throughout the summer after West Yorkshire-based Caterleisure closed the Refresh Pavilion Cafe.

Its closure also meant there was no toilet facilities in the park as the other public convenience at the car park across the river has been closed since lockdown was imposed in March.

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The situation is of particular concern for parents of children using the nearby play park.

Now it has emerged that a new operator is about to take over the premises, with an announcement anticipated before the end of the month.

Scottish Borders Council had received two offers to lease the cafe and is currently in the final stages of agreeing terms.

Town honorary provost Watson McAteer has welcomed the development and news that the new operator is based locally.

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When Caterleisure took over the outlet on a 10-year lease in February 2018 there were rumblings of discontent that the contract had been awarded to a company outwith the Borders.

Mr McAteer said: “While I can fully understand the restrictions the Covid-19 pandemic have placed on the council the reopening of the park cafe and toilets must now be an absolute priority. We have missed an entire summer and while the cafe closure was unfortunately inevitable the toilets were another matter and have left countless families and visitors without access to basic facilities.

“However, I am told that a new tenant, described as being ‘local to Hawick’, has been identified and that we can expect an announcement before the end of September. With the recently opened pump track this is just the positive news that many of the townsfolk have been looking forward to. I certainly hope that the new tenant is able to provide services that are within the reach of local families”.

The previous leaseholders had faced claims that the prices charged for coffee, juice and sandwiches at the outlet were out of the reach of many ordinary families.

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Further issues raised included restricted opening hours and lengthy queuing.

Mr McAteer added: “People are desperate for the cafe and the toilets at the cafe to open and I’ve been pushing the council and last week they told me they were just about there. The public are calling for it to be a local person or business that gets the contract because I think that local folk want that local context and that whoever takes it over will need to be more realistic with the prices, particularly when it’s involving youngsters buying juice and stuff like that.”