Would you like to run a cafe in a castle?

A new visitor centre will open at Pontefract Castle this summer.
Work starts on £3.5m restoration scheme at Pontefract Castle. Coun Les Shaw, Wakefield Council's cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport, Coun Clive Tennent and Charles Aneley chairman of William Anelay Ltd, YorkWork starts on £3.5m restoration scheme at Pontefract Castle. Coun Les Shaw, Wakefield Council's cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport, Coun Clive Tennent and Charles Aneley chairman of William Anelay Ltd, York
Work starts on £3.5m restoration scheme at Pontefract Castle. Coun Les Shaw, Wakefield Council's cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport, Coun Clive Tennent and Charles Aneley chairman of William Anelay Ltd, York

And Yorkshire businesses are being invited to operate a café at the site.

The café will seat around 24 people inside with space for a further 60 customers outside and will include a kitchen and servery.

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Coun Les Shaw, Wakefield Council’s cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport, said: “A lot of market research has been carried out which indicates a significant demand for a high quality café at the castle.

Work on the new visitor centre at Pontefract Castle.Work on the new visitor centre at Pontefract Castle.
Work on the new visitor centre at Pontefract Castle.

“It is out to tender on the open market and we hope that there will be a lot of interest from Pontefract and Yorkshire businesses in this unique opportunity to be part of the growth of the district’s tourism offer.

“The café is part of our plans to make the site more sustainable in the future and I think it represents a marvellous business opportunity.”

The café will be located inside a new visitor centre at the castle, which also includes classroom facilities, a retail area and exhibition space.

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The whole redevelopment is part of the £3.5m Key to the North project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Work on the new visitor centre at Pontefract Castle.Work on the new visitor centre at Pontefract Castle.
Work on the new visitor centre at Pontefract Castle.

The project was launched last year to help improve the tourist attraction.

Parts of the castle not seen by the public since the end of the civil war will also be opened up as part of the restoration scheme. Visitors will be able to view Swillington Tower and Sally Port for the first time since the 1600s.

Tenders interested in the café business opportunity are asked to register on Yortender at www.yortender.co.uk

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Registration is free and once registered, businesses will receive e-mail alerts about tender opportunities.

Full details of the café layout, fixtures and fittings and expected visitor numbers are included in the tender documents.