Template:Courier-OCT-25-17

NEW OPERATOR TAKES OVER THE CAFE ON THE REC

The cafe in the Pavilion on the Rec is now called Bertie's after being taken over by a new operator, a company called On the Rec. It aims to do the basics well, with cafe food and more, with an attractive presentation.

Bertie's is retaining the existing staff and is keen to employ local people; it wants to support residents, visitors, community clubs and societies with whatever catering needs they might have be it a breakfast, bacon rolls and coffee or hosting events at the Pavilion.

Bertie's is managed by Hugh and Sherrill Taggart, who have been running it since July. They have lived in Claygate for 22 years and have been keen contributors to life on the Rec. They are incredibly excited and look forward to developing and enhancing the cafe in the coming months.

Pistachios had operated the cafe from 2021 but this year decided to move on. The Claygate Recreation Ground Trust and all Rec users thank Pistachios for their significant contribution and friendship and wish them all the very best in their new ventures.

AN OUTDOOR GYM

One of the key recommendations from last year's Claygate: The Way Forward report was to research options for an outdoor gym on Claygate Rec and seek funding to implement it once a design was agreed.

To enable this to happen, a grant was obtained from the National Lottery Community Fund and all the necessary permissions have now been received which means the outdoor gym should be available on the Rec this year More than 600 residents indicated they would use an outdoor gym-so it is expected to be very busy.