Community Cafe at The Unity Centre

Northstowe Town Council is seeking to appoint a suitably experienced commercial café operator to operate the café provision at The Unity Centre, Northstowe, Cambridge.

The Unity Centre is a new and busy community facility managed by Northstowe Town Council. The café is intended to form an important part of the Centre's wider community offer, providing high-quality food, beverages and refreshments to Centre users, local residents, community groups, visitors and those using nearby facilities.

The opportunity includes the use of the designated café space, adjacent kitchen and external seating area. The internal café area is approximately 92m², with an anticipated capacity of around 40 covers, and the kitchen area is approximately 16m². The operator will be expected to fit out the kitchen and servery/counter area at their own cost and provide a sustainable, inclusive and commercially viable café service.

The Council is seeking an operator who can provide a friendly, efficient and flexible service, including healthy options, value for money, appropriate provision for dietary, religious and lifestyle requirements, and the ability to support events and community activity at the Unity Centre. The Council is particularly interested in proposals that demonstrate community benefit, environmental sustainability, reduced waste, no single-use plastics, and positive engagement with Northstowe's growing community.

Tenderers are required to submit a business plan, catering offer, proposed opening hours, financial proposal and supporting business information. The Council is flexible as to the financial model proposed and will consider rent, fee, profit-share or other commercially appropriate arrangements.

The proposed contract/lease will be for a minimum initial term of 10 years, with the option to extend annually for a further 2 years after the initial term. Mutual break clauses will be included at years 3 and 6. The award will be subject to contract and agreement of suitable lease terms.

The tender will be evaluated on the basis of:

Quality and Business Viability - 50%

Financial Offer - 25%

Community Benefit - 25%

This procurement is reserved under Cabinet Office Procurement Policy Note 11/20 and is open only to suppliers whose businesses are located within Cambridgeshire / the relevant local geographical area specified in the tender documentation.