Customers heartbroken at closure of much-loved Greater Manchester park café

A popular café at a busy Manchester Park has announced its closure. The Pavilion at Alexandra Park closed it's doors for the last time on June 14 after failing to renew its contract.

The café which operated from the multifunction building that also doubled up as a community hub and featured public toilets, storage space and changing rooms at the Whalley Range park. Placed next to the cricket pitches and overlooking the lake, The Pavillion's menu included full English breakfasts, cakes, jacket potatoes and a range of hot and cold drinks.

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Owners of the café took to social media to announce their closure on Friday (June 14) saying that they 'hoped' someone else would have picked up the contract for the place but sadly that didn't happen. The statement claims that they operated for 'months' after their contract had ended in 'goodwill' but conceded that the 'time has come to leave'.

According to the statement, the current staff will be moving on with the owners to their new endeavour and there will be no job losses. Many customers took to the comments to wish them well. One commenter said: "Oh no, what a shame. Good luck to all of you."

Another added: "Ah that’s a shame. We will miss you. Thank you for everything you’ve done. The staff have been so lovely"

Another user said: "You were such a nice team. There were a few occasions where your staff were super kind to me or people I was with. Thanks and good luck in your new place."

The full statement by the former owners on Facebook reads: "From 4pm today we have decided to close the café after deciding not to renew our contract, We hoped someone would have picked up the contract and we could have handed over the operations smoothly sadly this hasn't happened.

"We operated for months after our contract ended as goodwill however the time has come to leave. Our team will be transferring so there will be no job losses, We are sure the council will find you a operator soon and it isn't for lack of them trying.

"Thank you to the amazing members of the community who were so welcoming, thank you to the Friends of Alexandra Park Manchester you are beyond lovely and do such an amazing job, also thank you to Manchester City Council for being great partners."