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Cafe Concession - Gisburn

Forestry Commission

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

23 Jul 2026 at 11:25

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Forestry Commission intends to appoint a food and beverage operator to manage Gisburn Forest Cafe in Lancashire. The concession covers restaurant and food-serving services (CPV 55300000), with the cafe forming part of the visitor offer at Gisburn Forest in the Forest of Bowland National Landscape. The site serves visitors from Blackburn, Burnley, Preston and surrounding areas, and supports mountain biking, walking and access to Stock Reservoir. Gisburn Forest attracts around 80,000 visitors each year and hosts events including yoga, mountain bike races, outdoor music evenings, craft days and accessibility conferences. The cafe is intended to welcome visitors who walk, cycle and relax in the forest, making this relevant to operators experienced in visitor-focused hospitality and event environments.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the buyer has announced its intention to procure, but this record is not an invitation to tender. It is expected to use a concession arrangement for one lot. The anticipated contract period is 1 November 2026 to 31 October 2036. The estimated value is £2.5 million excluding VAT and £3 million including VAT. Forestry Commission anticipates that the tender will be live towards the end of August or beginning of September 2026, with a further notice expected on 24 August 2026. Planned market engagement is intended to notify interested parties that the tender process is imminent and register their interest, with engagement scheduled to conclude on 21 August 2026.

The procurement is suited to food and beverage operators able to run a cafe serving a substantial outdoor visitor destination over a long-term concession. The setting favours businesses that can combine day-to-day hospitality with service for varied visitor groups and event activity, including mountain biking, walking, family recreation and accessibility-focused events. The buyer describes a growing recreational offer and a cafe expected to play a central role in the visitor experience, so relevant preparation includes demonstrating operational resilience, a suitable food-service model and the ability to respond to changing visitor demand. The lot is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises, widening its potential appeal beyond larger hospitality groups.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Cafe Concession - Gisburn

Notice Description

Forestry England are looking for a food and beverage operator to manage Gisburn Forest Cafe. Gisburn Forest is located within the Forest of Bowland National Landscape and is managed by Forestry England attracting visitors from Blackburn, Burnley, Preston and further afield. The forest has a growing recreational offer including 18 miles of mountain bike trails some more challenging than others, 10 miles of walks in the forest and access to a further 8 miles around the neighbouring Stock reservoir. It welcomes 80,000 visitors a year and hosts an wide variety of events from yoga, mountain bike races, outdoor music evenings, crafting days and accessibility conferences. Gisburn Forest cafe offer will play a central role in welcoming visitors walk, bike and relax in the forest. We anticipate the tender will be live towards the end of August/beginning of September 2026. Interested parties should register on the Panacea tendering portal via this link in anticipation of the tender going live - https://app.panacea-software.com/ForestryCommission/Login.aspx

Planning Information

The purpose of the engagement is to notify potentially interested parties that the tender process is imminent and to register their interest.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d19d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069590-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services

CPV Codes

55300000 - Restaurant and food-serving services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
24 Aug 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Nov 2026 - 31 Oct 2036 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Forestry Commission
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS16 1EJ
Postcode Area
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
South Gloucestershire
Electoral Ward
Stoke Park & Cheswick
Westminster Constituency
Filton and Bradley Stoke

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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