As of June 2024, the café in Wimbledon Park was refurbished - after 2 years of closure - and welcomed many local residents as the summer season started.
The new company ‘Cooks Kitchen’ brought a clean and fresh atmosphere to the space with a vast range of delectable pastries, cooked food and the aroma of freshly made coffee.
Conveniently, Cooks Kitchen café opened just in time for the Wimbledon tennis championships allowing business to peak early.
The championships brought the café a huge influx of customers- majorly benefitting the new business economically.
This regeneration has not only shown to be financially beneficial but also has a social impact as it has brought together people in the community.
Mark Radley - the manager of Cooks Kitchen Café in Wimbledon Park said,
“Since taking over the café, Cooks Kitchen has employed local people to become part of the community creating a warm and cosy atmosphere in the café.”
The café remained busy even after the peak summer period when ice cream sales dominated before giving way to sales of hot chocolate in the colder months.
Many locals have commented positively on the café’s regeneration and have claimed that the café adds to the happy atmosphere and community spirit of the park with its friendly and accommodating employees.
However, some customers having questioned the pricing of items in the café.
Cooks Kitchen have responded to this view and have informed customers that their pricing simply matches other high-street cafes such as Starbucks and Costa Coffee.
As the winter season approaches and temperatures plunge, you would expect to see a slight decrease in customers compared to the summer peak.
However, employees claim that the café is growing steadily and healthily so ultimately, the weather is having no impact on footfall and the café popular as ever.
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