Work on an old site at Sheffield Botanical Gardens will begin this week in order to refurbish the old Curators House Team Rooms.
Sheffield City Council announced plans for the new café, which will be situated close to the Clarkhouse Road entrance of the historic gardens.
Cllr Richard Williams, Chair of the Communities, Parks and Leisure Policy Committee, said: “We’re really pleased to see that this development is getting underway.
“A thriving café makes a huge difference to visitors’ experience within our parks, gardens and woodlands and we know that the gardens have been crying out for improvements to these facilities for some time now.”
The council is collaborating with a new partner, Joni, which has a reputation for delivering high quality hospitality in venues across the city, such as Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet.
Amy from Joni said: “We’re incredibly excited to bring you our signature breakfast, brunch, lunch, coffee & bakes in the most beautiful setting imaginable.
“Since opening our little shop in Oughtibridge we’ve been overwhelmed by support from our locals and the wider reach of Sheffield. We can’t wait to serve up spritz brunches and sunset tapas overlooking the gardens.”
The Botanical Gardens’ features include expansive greenhouses, a Victorian ‘bear pit’, and hundreds of rare plants and trees across its nineteen acres. It is listed by English Heritage as a Grade II site of special historic and architectural interest.
The gardens welcome thousands of visitors each year, hosting major events including a firework display, plays and concerts.
Improved toilet facilities will also be open for public access this summer.
Miles Stevenson, the Chair of the Sheffield Botanical Gardens Trust, said: “We know that people from all over the world visit these beautiful gardens – and having a great café for visitors is a really important aspect of any visit. We’re really pleased that Joni is going to be operating the new café and we wish them much success.”
The venue’s launch has also received support from The Friends of the Gardens (FOBS), a large army of volunteers who maintain the Botanical Gardens.
Carolyn Clark, the Executive Chair of FOBS, said: “We are thrilled to have a café with such a great reputation and known track record of working in heritage sites in Sheffield’s beautiful Botanical Gardens.
“We welcome them to the Gardens family and wish them much success.”
An official opening date will be announced soon.
