Say NO! To unauthorised polluting Ice Cream Traders!

At Beckenham Place Park, visitors are spoilt for choice. As far as ice cream, food and drink is concerned they’ve got options but should be mindful of opportunistic unauthorised traders who appear unannounced.

This post is intended to help visitors to Beckenham Place Park better understand who the legitimate businesses are and why it’s best to buy from these businesses.  

Hospitality businesses in BPP

The Homestead Café in the homestead courtyard offers a takeaway service of breakfast brioches including vegan options, oven-baked pizza, craft beers, hot and cold drinks and cakes and pastries baked in house daily. Plus… organic ice cream and ice lollies.

The Homestead café’s kiosk in the playground also serves soft ice cream and drinks. 

The Mansion bar & cafe offers a wide range of beers and drinks, coffees and cakes and also offers to sit down meals overlooking the park. They often get their ice cream bike serving delicious soft scoop ice cream by Hackney Gelato out when it’s warmer weather.

These businesses have been granted permission to operate in the park to offer high-quality food and drink.

They sign up to the Beckenham Place Park values of sustainability, community and partnership and invest in the park in many forms, through the payment of rent and by contributing in other ways to the community.

Other traders

Unfortunately, some traders turn up unannounced and without permission to do so. They often stand idling pumping out exhaust fumes near the playground and other areas which is damaging to health and the environment.

These unauthorised traders have not been approved by the council. We cannot guarantee that they are providing high quality products.

This is why we operate a permit system for any business who wishes to trade at BPP.

Please do not purchase from the  ice cream vans you see in the park. They are unauthorised and we are currently working with the Council’s Crime Enforcement and Regulation team to stop their activities.

A note on pricing

The prices for refreshments sold in the park reflect the quality of the product and service they offer. We ask businesses operating from BPP to offer a range of prices for all wallet sizes.

The homestead café for example offers ice lollies from £1.50. A trader in the farmer’s café has cakes on offer starting at £1.50.

Ice cream vans can appear more convenient or cheaper but that is often not the case. Unauthorised traders in the park have been known to overcharge. We’ve had reports of inconsistent and high prices for poor quality products sold by such unauthorised traders.  With businesses authorised by the Council, you know where you’re at.

Who to offer your custom

The only legitimate authorised businesses offering food and drinks in BPP are the Homestead cafe, The Mansion Bar and Café, the weekly Sunday Food and Farmer's market and other markets organised by the Mansion which tend to be in its proximity. These tend to be clear because they are part of an organised event.

There is plenty of variety and good quality ice cream offered by the Homestead café, its kiosk and the Mansion café and bar ice cream trike.

Help us deter unauthorised traders from our lovely park. If you see an ice cream van in the park, please do not buy from them and instead support the legitimate businesses in the park.

Report any idling vehicles in Lewisham to help support the environment and people’s health.