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Barton's Point Coastal Park Catering and Educational Opportunities

Swale Borough Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

03 Sep 2026 at 10:21

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Swale Borough Council is exploring service provision at Barton’s Point Coastal Park, Marine Parade, Sheerness, Kent. The 31-hectare coastal park includes the Old Boathouse Café, toilets and showers, a car park, lake, play and picnic areas, an events field, open space, model aircraft and miniature railway areas, and wildlife and biodiversity habitats. Two potential services are covered: catering and food and beverage provision from the Old Boathouse Café, and structured, inclusive outdoor learning that could involve schools, local organisations and community partners. Outdoor learning may use the café building or temporary structures in the park, subject to agreement. Activity must respect the site’s ecology, wildlife and the adjacent Queenborough Lines waterway, a scheduled ancient monument, while working alongside existing users and leased areas.

This procurement is at the planning and preliminary market engagement stage; it is an intention to procure and is not an invitation to tender. The council is seeking expressions of interest for Lot 1, Lot 2, or a combined proposal. The council expects expressions of interest by 12pm on 5 October 2026. A lease is anticipated for the café, with a minimum occupation term of three years sought. Lot 1 has an anticipated contract period from 1 December 2026 to 31 October 2029. The stated procurement value is £0 gross. Proposals should include the requested occupation term, annual rent offered, a viable business plan, operating dates and times, financial projections for at least three years, two business references, and funding arrangements for repairs and improvements. Lake use requires an operation management plan and compliance with planning and health and safety requirements.

The work is likely to suit experienced café, catering, leisure, outdoor education and activity operators, including businesses able to combine commercial operation with community and environmental objectives. Café operators should be able to equip and maintain a basic-construction timber-clad building, fund or secure funding for improvements, manage customer-facing food and beverage services, and create events or programmes that increase community engagement and visitor numbers. Outdoor learning providers should be able to design inclusive activities supporting wellbeing, environmental awareness and lifelong learning, working with schools, local organisations, community partners and the council’s Greenspaces Ranger. Suppliers proposing lake activities need suitable operational controls and the ability to meet relevant regulatory and health and safety requirements. Strong evidence of comparable experience, financial viability, sustainability, social value and partnership working will be important.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Barton's Point Coastal Park Catering and Educational Opportunities

Notice Description

Barton's Point Coastal Park Marine Parade, Sheerness, Kent, ME12 2BX Expressions of Interest for Catering and Educational Opportunities Swale Borough Council is keen to build upon and widen the offer at Bartons Point Coastal Park (Google map link below) https://maps.app.goo.gl/uLnjK882kYLDbHSc7 The site measures 31ha and is located on the Northern Coast of the Isle of Sheppey, nestled between Minster-on-Sea and Sheerness; accessible via Marine Parade, the main coastal road link between the two. Currently the site consists of the Boat House Cafe, toilets, car park, lake, play and picnic areas, an events field along with large areas of open space. There are two tenanted areas used for flying model aircraft and miniature gauge railway. A shared access road provides both for the coastal park and also the adjacent Sea Cadet Corps. As well as being an active leisure site, the coastal park also has extensive wildlife and biodiversity habitats and these remain important to both protect and potentially utilise as a resource. The Council provided a new toilet block, including showers and ancillary facilities, in 2023. These are available for the benefit of visitors to Bartons Point. The existing drainage provision is via a cesspool. The Council is seeking expressions of interest (EOI) for two opportunities at Barton's Point Coastal Park. The Council is open to EOI's for each of Lots 1 and 2, individually or consolidated proposals which seek to meet both requirements. For both opportunities, the Council is seeking experienced operators that can demonstrate not only the financial viability of any proposals but also how social value will be delivered. Proposals also need to be sympathetic to the ecology of the site, with consideration for the environment and wildlife and the adjacent Queenborough Lines waterway, which is a scheduled ancient monument. Whilst acknowledging there is a seasonality to the types and level of activity on the site, the Council is keen to encourage activity throughout the year and this will be reflected in how proposals are considered. As the site has multiple users, with other leased areas, it is also important that proposals can work alongside or with these. It is anticipated that the Council will continue to provide basic grounds maintenance services to the whole site. The playground and bridge also remain the council's responsibility. Operators on site will be responsible for general site maintenance relating to their activity, such as litter generated from their operations, signage for activities etc. Lot 1: The Old Boathouse Cafe The old boathouse is a block frame, timber clad building with corrugated roof of the shore of the lake with a self-contained patio area (please see map 1 below). The property provides a good opportunity for a provider to deliver a food & beverage provision for the coastal park and a lease will be offered to the preferred bidder, when identified. The Council is keen that bidders should demonstrate strong community values in how the Cafe offer operates. We ask that EOI's show how the proposed operation contributes positively to how the site delivers social value; for instance by facilitating programmes, events, and activities that strengthen local connections and promote inclusive use of the Coastal Park. The building has benefited from some refurbishment in recent years but is of basic construction. It is the intention that the terms of occupation will require the successful bidder to maintain the building and undertake improvements required, subject to the Councils consent. The internal part of the building will be cleared of all existing equipment and fittings ahead of occupation. Bidders are therefore advised to inspect the building and carefully consider the cost of providing catering equipment and any necessary works before submitting in their EOI. Lot 2: Outdoor Learning The Council invites proposals which bring structured inclusive outdoor learning opportunities to Bartons Point. This may involve collaboration with local organisations, schools and community partners to create meaningful learning opportunities that support wellbeing, environmental awareness, and lifelong learning. These could be operated from the Lot 1 cafe building if agreement is reached or from temporary structures within the park supplied by the chosen provider, to be agreed with the Council. The Council is open-minded as to the nature of proposed activity and any provider will be able to work with the Council's Greenspaces Ranger, to facilitate activity. There is an area of grass alongside the lake which is suitable for camping during the summer season and use and management of the lake which may be of interest to Bidders, but individual operators would need to satisfy themselves that proposals would be compliant with all regulatory requirements, including planning and any H&S regulations. Please submit your EOI by 12pm on Monday 5th October 2026 to jayjenkins@swale.gov.uk. Please include the following information: *Terms of occupation being sought (the Council will be seeking a minimum of 3 years) *Annual rent being offered to SBC *A basic Business Plan that demonstrates that the proposal is viable and sustainable for the duration of operation. Your proposal should include details of the operation including the following: Evidence of previous experience/operations of a similar nature Detail of the activity and/or food and beverage offer to be provided Proposed operating dates and times If intention to make use of the lake then an operation management plan Any marketing proposals Details of any other events or activities proposed to increase community engagement and visitor numbers Some detail as to how social value will be secured from the operation and what benefits you expect to be delivered. Financial projections demonstrating a strong viability, showing profit & loss forecasts and any surplus in addition to a cash-flow for at least 3 years, Details of how any planned repairs and improvements will be funded (e.g., grant funding, personal savings, temporary rent concession, etc). Two business references Supporting Documents Plan 1: A historic site plan, showing the extent of the site. This reflects both current and historic uses, with the pitch and putt and camping area. Plan 2: Plan showing the location of the Old Boat House Cafe and enclosed patio. A copy of the Environmental Report produced for Bartons Point is available on request Please email graemetuff@swale.gov.uk or jayjenkins@swale.gov.uk for any further information or to arrange to view the premises.

Planning Information

An Expression of Interest was advertised in 2022, now proposals are invited.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f0fb
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083335-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

55520000 - Catering services

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Dec 2026 - 31 Oct 2029 2-3 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
Swale Borough Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SITTINGBOURNE
Postcode
ME10 3HT
Postcode Area
Rochester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ43 Kent Thames Gateway
Delivery Location
TLJ4 Kent
Local Authority
Swale
Electoral Ward
Roman
Westminster Constituency
Sittingbourne and Sheppey

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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