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Rounday Park cafe repairs are well under way
Repairs are underway at Roundhay Park's Lakeside Cafe which closed last year after it was ravaged by fire.
Workmen have now moved in to replace the roof and interior of the building before handing it over in late spring to tenant David Rogers for a re-fit.
Mr Rogers, who leases Lakeside from Leeds City Council, hopes to have it open once more in time for the summer season.
The popular cafe bar, which overlooks Waterloo Lake, re-opened in 2005 after a 200,000 refurbishment and earned the accolade of Best Beverage Experience in Britain from judges in a national catering trade magazine.
Then last year an electrical fault sparked a fire which ripped through the cafe, leading to its closure.
Investigations were carried out to establish the extent of the damage, with engineers having to ensure that the fabric of the building was sound before the go-ahead could be given for repair work to start.
Detailed design and drawing work for the scheme was undertaken before the project was put out to tender. The contract was awarded to Yorkshire-based MD Construction.
Coun John Procter, executive member for leisure, said: "We are delighted that work is finally under way to restore this immensely popular cafe in what is one of the most visited parks in the North of England.
"While the council pulled out all the stops to provide an alternative venue for refreshments in the cricket pavilion, it will be great to see people back in Lakeside again."
The cafe repairs are further good news for visitors to Roundhay Park after the opening of its visitor and education centre in The Mansion in November.
It opened as part of the final stages of the 8m restoration of the park to its original Victorian splendour. The Heritage Lottery Fund-backed scheme has seen careful restoration and upgrading of the park's infrastructure, landscape and features.
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Weather for Leeds
Friday 18 May 2012
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Temperature: 8 C to 12 C
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