Rose Garden Cafe: Sheffield park venue restoration ‘could cost £2 million’

The future of the cafe, which last month reopened to customers seated indoors for the first time in more than two years, is being planned by a ground-breaking partnership between Sheffield City Council, the Friends of Graves Park and the Save the Rose Garden Cafe campaign.

The building was closed suddenly by the council in July 2022 because of fears of structural problems that could have endangered public safety. However, an independent structural survey has now established that the roof is safe and only the front wall needs major work to stop it leaning.

A report to the council’s charity trustee sub-committee next Monday (September 9) says that the estimated £2m cost is based on the partnership’s brief, the needs of the cafe operator and the result of public consultation work.

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It adds: “This initial cost estimate is subject to change and will increase in accuracy as the delivery team develop the co-ordinated café design, which is a key next step towards a restored and refurbished café, alongside raising funds.”

The partnership has enough funding to cover the costs of an initial architect’s design, with the intention that going ahead will unlock further funding for the detailed design and construction works, the committee report says.

The committee oversees key decisions made about the cafe as the park is owned by a charitable trust held solely by the council.

The partnership aims to secure National Heritage Lottery funding and other financial backing for the full renovation work to take place.