A group of squatters has occupied the long-vacant Wandle Park café, reigniting public frustration over Croydon Council’s failure to reopen the facility.
The café, once a popular feature of the park’s 2013 redevelopment, has remained closed since the pandemic despite multiple promises to bring it back into use.
The group behind the occupation, Reclaim Croydon, began occupying the building over a month ago. Known for converting disused public spaces into temporary community hubs, the group previously made headlines in 2023 after taking over Croydon’s former Brick by Brick offices on George Street.
Since moving in, Reclaim Croydon says they have cleaned and repaired parts of the café and hosted free events, including teas, drinks, a shared lunch, circus performances, and a clown workshop over the recent bank holiday.
Croydon Council confirmed it is “still trying to gain repossession via peaceful means”. According to an internal email seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), officials are prepared to seek a court eviction order if the occupiers do not leave voluntarily, though the process could take several weeks.
The council has also suggested that the Friends of Wandle Park, a local community group, might help mediate a peaceful resolution with the squatters.
Built as part of a wider park regeneration, the café is located near the eastern entrance and was once a well-used facility offering food, drinks, and access to Wandle Park’s only public toilet. Since its closure, however, the building has fallen into disrepair and become a hotspot for antisocial behaviour.
“I’ve seen people doing drugs and urinating behind it, sometimes even worse,” one member of Friends of Wandle Park told the LDRS. “Some people come to the park, find there’s no toilet, and say they’ll never come back.”
Another resident added: “They spent all that money on the park, only to let it fall apart ten years later.”
Mayor Jason Perry has previously said he is “keen to see it reopened”, noting that cafés play an important role in improving safety and boosting footfall. While he acknowledged issues with the roof, he said the council was preparing to go to market “imminently” to find a new operator.
Despite such assurances, the timeline has repeatedly slipped. During a walkabout in November 2022, council officers reportedly told residents the café would reopen by Easter 2023. As of June 2025, it remains shut.
Throughout the delays, the Friends group and nearby residents have called on the council to open the café to the community. Friends member Simon Jones told the LDRS last year: “What we’re saying is we want access to the café and its amenities in the meantime.”
While some online have praised Reclaim Croydon’s recent efforts as a grassroots response to inaction, others fear the occupation could further delay any formal reopening.
Waddon Labour councillor and mayoral candidate Rowenna Davis has criticised the administration’s handling of the site, calling the current situation “totally preventable”.
“Residents have been campaigning to get this café reopened for years,” she told the LDRS. “All Mayor Perry had to do was say yes to community members who had already shown they could do it. Mayor Perry delayed again and again until the squatters arrived.”
She pledged to continue supporting local efforts to bring the café back into use: “Fellow Councillor Elily Ponnuthurai and I will keep fighting until this beloved café is open and bringing joy to the community once again.”
Despite the setbacks, optimism persists among supporters. A Friends member previously described the café’s potential as “a goldmine”.
“You could hold children’s parties, set out plenty of tables and chairs, it’s amazing what could be done there,” they said.
A spokesperson for Croydon Council said: “The illegal occupation of this council-owned building is disruptive and has led to a delay in the lease being secured by the new café operator.
“We are making arrangements to repossess and secure the building and are working with the police to shut down the illegal operation of refreshments being served to the public.
“We know how much our residents and visitors to Wandle Park want to see the café reopened and we remain committed to getting it reopened as soon as possible.
“The café has been closed longer than expected owing to delays during the tendering process for a new café operator. We have been working to secure a new operator and are eager to finalise this process.”
