Ca phe House - Bermondsey St

I quite appreciate that some will think it is a welcome addition to the area.

I think it is reducing the public space available to all, which defeats the whole point of having public spaces. I do not think it matters whether the area is hard surfaced or grassed: it is still part of the park.

I also think it will set a precedent. With so many cafes/restaurants opened or opening on Bermondsey Street (not that I am complaining), a competitor is bound to want a share of park space, and not just in the daytime. What will the council say then?

What I didn't say was that when I went, I was with a friend and her very new baby and buggy. There is no way that we would have been able to eat there had there not been the seats outside as there was no room inside, with all seats taken and a queue.

The one thing that I don't approve of is that we were served the food in takeaway cardboard. They bring out the food to the tables, which is nice, but I'd really rather they collect the plates afterwards rather than have everything go into the bin.

Caphe House is paying the council £1300 a year for the use of the space in the park:
http://planningonline.southwarksites.com/planningonline2/DocsOnline/Documents/173153_1.pdf

I agree with the points about planning, but am divided. I also love outside cafes and think London has too few, although thankfully it is growing. I love watching people go past. I am a close neighbour and I have been delighted to see Caphe House getting the tables going.