Highbury Fields
We are working hard to create a greener and healthier borough. As part of this, we are planning to make some improvements to Highbury Fields.
The Parks Department submitted a planning application in May 2023 to build a new café garden and wildlife garden on the north-eastern area of Highbury Fields, near to the tennis courts. The proposals were developed following extensive engagement with the local community and park users and we are pleased to confirm that planning permission was granted in July 2023. More information on the engagement process, including a feedback report, can be viewed in the useful documents section below.
The Oasis café, run by Mr El-Nemer for the past 20 years, closed at the end of May 2024, to enable asbestos reports (and removal if found) to take place before the demolition of the building, which is not fit for purpose and is deteriorating.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Mr El-Nemer for his work in Highbury Fields during this time, and we know that the cafe and following he
has built-up will be missed by many in the community.
New café building
Construction work is due to begin on the new café in Autumn 2024, which will include new accessible toilets and a changing places toilet, for visitors with complex disabilities. This work is expected to take approximately 10 months, and we plan to have the new café open by Autumn 2025.
We are in the final stages of appointing a café operator, and we should be able to announce who this will be in Summer 2025. In line with council procedures, the permanent concession opportunity had to be advertised externally to ensure the highest quality, social benefit, and value for the community.
The new building, which will be situated on the same site as the current cafe building, will provide both indoor and outdoor seating for the café, five public toilets, one Changing Places (CP) toilet and a park keeper’s office. A CP toilet will enable people with complex and multiple disabilities to visit the Fields safe in the knowledge that they will be able to access toilet provision. You can view the proposals below.
The other various structures and buildings within this area of the Fields will also be demolished. This includes the existing park-keeper’s hut and associated storage, the Bandstand building and the derelict park keeper’s cottage which is currently hoarded off. This area will be returned to green space as part of the scheme and site of the former Bandstand will be transformed into a wildlife garden, with an outdoor teaching shelter in the second phase of the project.
Temporary concession
We have appointed Dusty Knuckle to run the temporary concession in Highbury Fields. Dusty Knuckle is a socially aware business who have a presence in neighbouring Hackney and Haringey, where they provide training opportunities for young people who face barriers to employment. Find out more at dustyknuckle.com
The Dusty Knuckle concession is located just next to the bandstand in Highbury Fields and is now open for business.
What will happen next?
Below is the current indicative project programme but please note that this is subject to change and any amendments will be advised on this page.
February 2024 – August 2024 – Procurement of main contractor for building works
Autumn 2024 – Works commence on-site
Autumn 2025 – Works complete on-site
If you would like to be kept up to date with the project please email HighburyFieldsImprovement@islington.gov.uk to be added to the project mailing list.
Plans for Highbury Fields proposals
View the plans for Highbury Fields Cafe
- HF cafe north view render – A 3D image of the proposed café building from the north west
- HF cafe render – A 3D image of the proposed café building from the south west
- HF planning drawing – A proposed plan of the café and surrounding landscape
- HF previous version cafe plan annotated Feb 22 – Previous café plan that was engaged on in 2022
- HF wildlife garden drawing – Proposed site plan of the wildlife garden
- HF wildlife garden render – A 3D image of the proposed teaching space and wildlife garden
