Visitors to Saunders Park are celebrating the opening of a new café.
‘Laz’ in the Park’ is the latest addition to the popular park, which has benefitted from around £150,000 investment over the past year.
Run by Max Calesini, the café, which includes an outside seating area and new public toilets, serves coffee, snacks, ice cream and home-made food, including vegan and gluten free options.
Max, who started his business online before taking over the café, said: “2020 has been a fantastic year during which we have met so many wonderful people who have welcomed us. Saunders Park is the crossroads of numerous communities that meet and intertwine.
"It’s wonderful to observe and interact from behind the coffee counter. Children love to eat in the park or under our gazebos and we are becoming famous for our lasagne!
“Here at Saunders Park, every season offers opportunities for all age groups and we look forward to welcoming everyone.”
More than you thought!
One of the first visitors was Councillor Jamie Lloyd, Deputy Chair of the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee.
He said: “Saunders Park’s brand new café is one of the most obvious – not to mention delicious! - signs of a major investment and upgrade programme undertaken by the council over the last year, and I was pleased to meet and hear more about future plans from the new tenant Max and his partner."
“This often-overlooked but much valued community park now offers a well-equipped, attractive outdoor space for all to enjoy and benefit from. As the park’s bright new signage says, Saunders Park really is ‘More than you thought.’”
The park, off Lewes Road and Hollingdean Road, has had other improvements including the children’s playground with its toddler area, and offers football and basketball facilities on a colourful artwork-designed surface too.
It also has paddling pool, currently closed due to Covid 19, and a wildlife area and is home to the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership community garden and composting project – a joint initiative with Brighton & Hove City Council.
