The forecourt of Fairfield Halls is set to become a new bar and food space called ‘Transformer’.

The space will launch during the Ambition Festival on Thursday, 23 July, and continue throughout the summer.

A special extended range of international food traders will be occupying the space during the festival, including Caribbean food specialists One Love Kitchen and La Crepe des Delices, who will be serving up dishes from a fully-restored vintage Citroen H van.

Meanwhile a bar area will be serving a selection of craft beers, cider, pale ales, wine, spirits and soft drinks. It will be open during the festival every day from Thursday to Sunday between 11.30am and 8pm.

It is planned to continue using the space outside Fairfield as a food and drink area for the remainder of summer and possibly beyond.

This is part of major plans to revitalise the College Green area and regenerate Croydon’s cultural quarter.

A team of architects were appointed earlier this year to oversee the design of the redevelopment of the area.

The regeneration of College Green is central to the revival of Croydon’s cultural quarter, and has the potential to offer an innovative and inspiring area with a lively and sustainable mix of homes, offices, shops and restaurants.

The wider scheme will create a high quality public space and provide a through route to and from East Croydon station, quickly connecting visitors with Queens Gardens, the Clocktower, Surrey Street and Exchange Square.

Cllr-Godfrey“Transforming the Fairfield Halls forecourt into an area offering food and drink is a fantastic use of this space, which is a key part of our plans to regenerate Croydon’s cultural quarter.

“The Ambition Festival provides a great opportunity to launch this, and help draw visitors to this part of the town centre, as well as attracting people to Fairfield Halls.”

Councillor Timothy Godfrey, cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport

  • Ambition Festival – for the full programme of events and to book tickets visit www.ambitionfest.com