New cafe in Burgess Park gets a name – Park Life Cafe

Local residents gathered at Burgess Park on Saturday to discover the name of the park's brand new cafe.

Councillor Barrie Hargrove, cabinet member for transport, environment and recycling at Southwark Council, announced that the name chosen for the Chumleigh Gardens site was "Park Life Cafe."  

He added:

"I like the choice of name for the cafe because I think it reflects what Burgess Park is all about. 'Park Life Cafe' conveys the personality of the park really well, which attracts people from all walks of life and has a real sense of community about it. The new cafe, with its new name, is a really good example of how this park is being transformed for the better by the council and its partners."  

The name was dreamt up by the winner of Southwark Council's competition to provide a name, 30 year old Saskia Elisa from Herne Hill.  

Kevin French, who was a competition judge and is director of the company that runs the cafe, Prestigious Catering, said:  

"I think it's funky, modern and represents all park users." 

Notes to editors

Event

At the event on Saturday 4 December were carol singers, a workshop on how to decorate and dress your Christmas tree, followed by a switching on of the tree lights by deputy mayor, Councillor Lorraine Lauder. 

Changes to Burgess Park

Burgess Park was granted £2m by the Mayor of London in March 2009. It was selected by the Mayor to receive the largest grant under his 'Help a London Park ' programme.  

The Mayor's grant was matched with a further £4m of funding which was secured through an enhanced partnership between the council and the Aylesbury New Deal for Communities.  

The £6m revitalisation project is in addition to over £1.2m that's been invested in the Chumleigh Gardens open space, play area and cafe in the heart of the park.