Dartford's Central Park is now home to a brand new cafe and visitor centre - the perfect place to stop for tea and a slice of cake on a stroll through the park!
The cafe serves a range of refreshments from breakfasts to drinks and snacks through to main meals, all at reasonable prices.
Conceptually based on Southwold Pier for a look and feel (see Southwold-Pier) to extend and complement the seaside theme of the water play area (that is complete with seagull, beach huts and timber groynes).
The building contains a large tea room, kitchen and storage areas, public toilets that can be used for changing rooms and a park office. It is elevated off the ground as it is set within the River Darent flood plain and this reinforces the pier character. The accommodation is surrounded by timber decks for seating and all areas are wheelchair accessible.
Construction is mainly of concrete piles and ring beams, with blockwork walls and a steel framed and slate finished roof that oversails the timber decks to shelter them. The whole of the outside walls of the building are clad in non- flammable weather boarding to complete the pier theme.
The building has green credentials with solar panels for the water/space heating and will use 'grey' waste water from the water play area for WC and urinal flushing.
The centre is designed to be the focal hub of the park, located directly adjacent to the water play area and linked into the main footpath network along the Darent Valley Path route.
Its also a place people can find out about the park, the local wildlife and leisure routes including circular walks both around the town and the surrounding countryside (only minutes away through the park).
The Cafe can by contacted on tel. 01322 229949
Opening hours:
10am Monday to Friday and 9:30am Saturday and Sunday