Great coffee, delicious cakes and tasty food will be the order of the day for Walpole Park’s many visitors this summer following the announcement of Social Pantry as the new catering partner for Pitzhanger Manor.
The London -based, independent business, which has a well-earned reputation for social values and locally sourced ingredients, has been chosen by the Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery Trust (PMGT) to run the park’s kiosk and café.
The kiosk is to be named Pitzhanger Pantry and will open re-open next month after a brief refurbishment. Soane’s Kitchen, the brand new café currently being built in Sir John Soane’s original walled kitchen garden, will open its doors to visitors later in the summer.
Social Pantry was set up seven years ago and has built a reputation for a strong social ethos during this time. This includes using fresh, locally sourced ingredients, an environmentally-friendly outlook and employing staff that may have had trouble finding employment elsewhere.
It already has an existing café in Battersea, voted by Time Out readers the best café in Battersea 2016.
Alex Head, founder and CEO of Social Pantry, said: “I am delighted that we have been selected to provide fantastic catering for local residents and visitors from further afield.
“I founded Social Pantry in 2011 as I wanted to create a company that delivers well sourced, seasonal and accessible food. For me, as a business owner, my aim is to be as sustainable as possible whilst ensuring that every meal we deliver is as delicious as the last.
“I love to provide customers with an enjoyable and creative experience and I will apply these values at both Pitzhanger Pantry and Soane’s Kitchen. We will also be creating a calendar of community events at Pitzhanger Pantry.”
Clare Gough, director of PMGT, said: “Over the last seven years, Alex has built a highly successful business from scratch, offering high quality catering at reasonable prices. We were particularly attracted by the fact that Social Pantry manages to combine this quality with a strong social ethos in the sourcing of its ingredients, in its employment programme and eco-credentials.
“After seeing what Alex has achieved in past ventures we have high expectations for the excellent service Social Pantry will offer to the users of Walpole Park and all those who visit Pitzhanger.”
Pitzhanger Manor is undergoing a major £12m process of conservation and renewal, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Ealing Council, Arts Council England.
