The Memorial Park Café is set to open on Friday, from 12pm to 3pm, following the announcement of the closure of Huttons at Wickford on December 12.
The café, which is located on the Pavilion at the park off Rettendon View, was a welcome spot for dogwalkers, families and volunteers to socialise and meet friends and the new owners are “refreshing” the interior before the opening under a new name.
A spokesman for Memorial Park Café said: “We’re pleased to announce that our soft opening will take place on Friday, January 10, from 12pm to 3pm.
“Join us to celebrate with an open buffet and enjoy the warm, welcoming atmosphere we’ve been working hard to create.
“For our pet lovers, we’re happy to confirm our dog-friendly room will remain available for our furry friends, however, we are considering alternative arrangements for this space in the future to ensure the best experience for all our customers.
“We look forward to celebrating this special moment with you, please come and join us we can’t wait to welcome you.”
Huttons had been open in the park for around seven years, with the owners thanking customers ahead of the takeover.
Kim Oakes, Wickford town councillor and chair of Friends of Wickford Memorial Park volunteers, is eager to see the new café succeed in its place.
She said: “We wish them all the best, it is a real asset to the park.
“I think it is very important to park users to have refreshments and be able to use toilets, the Memorial Park is the only park in Wickford to have a café and toilets.
“The volunteers use the café as a social meeting venue to meet up after our work in the park and it is important to keep the social meetings in the café and good for peoples’ welfare.
“The café owners also allow us to hold our committee meetings in the back room plus our Christmas get-together.”
Kim added that the new owners are “very enthusiastic and have lots of plans” for the future of the business.