ARBA Group to create new container cafe at Sheffield’s Meadowhall Business Park

The developers behind a business park in Sheffield have secured the go-ahead for a new on-site container cafe.

The planning decision will enable the expansion of a mobile catering unit at Meadowhall Business Park that has traded on nearby Carbrook Hall Road since 2003.

The cafe, housed within a former shipping container, will be accessed by doors located along the short end of the unit and feature an external eating area.

It will be painted grey to match the colour scheme of the wider Meadowhall development.

Andrew Allen, director of property firm ARBA Group, said: “The business park has become home to around 300 employees as we continue to fill available accommodation on site.

“The existing mobile unit has become a popular choice for these employees and visitors to the business park as well as various large businesses nearby including Santander, Sheffield Forgemasters and South Yorkshire Police.”

He continued: “The site of the new permanent unit is currently an unused border within the grounds of Meadowhall Business Park. Having a new cafe at MBP not only adds to the current facilities on-site but will allow for the expansion of the existing catering business offer.”

Mandy Clarke, co-owner of the mobile catering unit, commented: “I am really looking forward to progressing to the next level with the catering business.

“With the container cafe at Meadowhall Business Park we will be able to offer a larger choice of food and provide seating so that people can really get away from their desks for a bite to eat.

“Many of our customers have been with us since I started in 2003. I’ve even been invited to weddings by customers including Sikh wedding and a Santander staff wedding.”

She added: “We have even had customers who called in on their way down from Scotland, after we were recommended to them.”

Developer ARBA Group has turned five former Sheffield City Council office buildings into over 70,000 sq ft of commercial space at Meadowhall Business Park.

The scheme currently sustains more than 300 jobs, with occupants including property consultancy Knight Frank, professional services company Capgemini and appliance firm KitchenEx.