The repair and renovation of the neo-Georgian-style cricket pavilion in Tudor Park built by S Maw & Sons in 1920, is long overdue. 

Early in 2020, it was included in Barnet Council’s local heritage list as being of historical and architectural interest because of social and community value, its age and rarity, and landmark qualities. 

The residents’ survey which I organised last spring had 1025 responses and showed that local people very much wanted a café in a refurbished pavilion with public toilets and new community space. 

There have been numerous attempts over the past decade to get the council engaged with repairs and to find a way to re-use the building. At the LBB Chipping Barnet Area Committee in June 2021, a motion was passed to fund £200,000 for structural and refurbishment work. 

I have since set up a Friends of Tudor Park Pavilion group which has produced its initial Vision Statement. A suggested layout change of the pavilion interior could enable a more flexible central space for community activities, classes such as yoga, pilates and art, playgroups, exhibitions, and meeting rooms for local clubs and organisations.

A café would be a perfect focal point: close to the existing children’s playground, it would provide a place to meet with friends or get out of the home office to do some work. Other improvements could include a completely new kitchen to cater for events and functions. 

It would be great to get more feedback and involvement from the community so we start 2022 with a strong voice and clear direction for the council to move the project forward. We hope the regeneration of the pavilion will be part of the Masterplan for improving amenities and the quality of the Tudor Park open space. 

Please show your support by emailing FriendsOfTudorPark [email protected] and share your ideas with us.