The summer holidays are now in full swing and visitors to Needham Lake, like Isaac Bridges (pictured), can enjoy a day out complete with an ice cream from the new converted trailer being run by the team from Cabbages and Kings.
In addition to ice-cream, visitors can also enjoy snacks and refreshments which can be purchased from Thursday to Tuesdays throughout the summer before work on the brand-new visitor centre starts. The new visitor centre will provide a larger café with indoor and outdoor seating and new toilets including the introduction of a changing places facility. The new, sustainably built visitors centre will not only welcome residents, but it is hoped it will also boost visitor numbers and support the local economy and encouraging more people to enjoy a range of outdoor leisure pursuits.
Cabbages and Kings was selected as the preferred tenant of the centre in December 2019 and will manage the day to day running of the centre and café offering a variety of refreshments and a seasonal menu. Working in partnership with the community they will offer a range of activities and events to help connect people and attract visitors.
Cllr Julie Flatman, Mid Suffolk District Council’s cabinet member for communities and Housing, said: “The lake is a wonderful attraction and we want the local community to enjoy the lake and open space over this summer before the new facilities are open. The development at Needham Lake is part of Mid Suffolk District Council and its partners’ vision to invest in Needham Market creating a fantastic place for people to live, work and visit and somewhere that everyone is proud to call home.”
Keith Myers, catering manager at Cabbages and Kings said: “It’s a really exciting time for us and our future at Needham Lake. This summer, we look forward to meeting local residents and families before we are able to open the doors at the new visitor centre.”
In addition to the new visitor centre, work is also due to begin on a new pedestrian route between Needham Lake and the town centre to provide easy access from Needham Lake to the town centre where visitors can enjoy the High Street’s independent shops and restaurants. It has also been announced that work is beginning to deliver new homes for the town at the former Mid Suffolk District Council headquarters and former middle school site.
For more information visit: www.midsuffolk.gov.uk..