A pavilion once used as changing rooms by footballers has had a major makeover to turn it into a cosy cafe and bistro.
The Park Bistro is now ready for business after three months of renovations at the former Attenborough Colts FC club house.
At weekends breakfast rolls with egg, bacon (and veggie /vegan alternatives) will be served and hot rolls with roast beef, chicken and pork will be on the menu for lunch.
The rest of the week customers will be able to order jacket potatoes, paninis, scones, a daily and lunch brunch special and delicious homemade cakes.
The new business, which officially opens on Wednesday (January 20), is the culmination of months of hard work by lifelong friends Karen Shepherd, 43, of Attenborough, and Tracey Danby, 45, of Mansfield.
Last year the duo got permission from the pavilion owners, Broxtowe Borough Council and Liberty Leisure, to overhaul the building, which more recently has been used by the football club for storage at Long Lane recreation ground in Attenborough.
The property was gutted, with walls pulled down, benches ripped out and a new roof added.
To brighten the dingy building which only had small high windows, bi-fold doors have been installed allowing light to flood into the stylish setting.
Countless delays pushed back the opening of the bistro from last August until now and the new proprietors can't wait to get stuck in.
Customers can sit inside the 20-seater bistro or outside on the patio overlooking the football pitch, where dogs are welcome.
There's also a stable door for serving takeaway around the side to avoid muddy boots trampling over the floor.
A soft opening saw the parents of football players, dog walkers and park users queuing out the door on Sunday.
Mother-of-four Kate has previous experience working in catering and hospitality at Castle Donington race track where she and her husband Jay run a racing team.
"I have been saying for a number of years I'd like to start my own bistro but it had to be a really unique location. I didn't just want to be in a row of shops.
"I've said for ages this place would make a good little bistro. You've got the play park, you've got football, loads of activities happening here and the nature reserve is on our doorstep so about two years ago I started making inquiries to see who owned it.
"It was surplus, nothing was happening with it. Now we're quite in love with it."
At the same time Kate's best friend of 30 years, Tracey, left her job as a school cook at the Flying High Academy in Mansfield, so the two joined forces.
The cakes, including gluten-free bakes, are made by local baker Karen Knight, who was made redundant from her office job during lockdown.
Kate said: "We will be doing vegetarian and meat options and catering for people with allergens."
Diners can also enjoy a glass of wine, prosecco, gin, beer and cider with their lunch.
During the summer, early evening theme nights are planned, with closing time no later than 8pm so as not to disturb neighbours in the residential area.
Kate said: "We want it to feel like a little holiday place with Mediterranean and Mexican theme nights. I think it will be really lovely.
"We have quite a lot of elderly people around here so we are looking at doing a dominoes night for them."
Childminder Sarah Powell, of Chilwell, can't wait to visit.
"We usually bring the children down to the park and the children have football sessions at the weekend as well so it's perfect to be able to come and grab a coffee or sit down and have a light lunch," she said.
"I think it's doing to do really well. It looks so lovely."
Visitors might spot several references around the building to the 'secret conker' which, it turns out, is a tribute to Tracey's late husband Michael, 46.
She said: "My husband passed away seven years ago. My son is now 16 but when he was six he and his dad went to the park and picked some conkers and planted them and I now have an enormous conker tree in the back garden, so that's the story behind it."
To replace the football club's lost storage space, the women have provided a cabin next to the bistro.
The Park Bistro is likely to open be six days a week but the day they close is still under consideration.
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