Parents upset after Havant play cafe closes permanently

Pallant House Play Cafe at The Pallant Centre, in Havant, posted on its Facebook page that it would not be reopening after lockdown.

A statement said: ‘It is with a heavy heart that we inform you that we will not be reopening our cafe at The Pallant Centre.

‘Before lockdown conversations took place with our landlord, the vicar of St Faiths, regarding the implications of Covid-19 and our cafe.

‘During these discussions, a financial agreement over rent payments could not be resolved.’

The post has prompted an outpouring of support from the community.

Regular customer Carly Petitt, from Emsworth, said: ‘The closure of the play cafe will leave a huge hole in the community. It is the only place in the Havant area that offers a truly welcoming space where parents can feel supported and relaxed.

‘It was a safe haven from the stresses and strains of parenting.

‘My three-year-old boy will be devastated when I tell him that we can’t go back there. I feel our children have lost enough already during this pandemic and this loss could have been avoided. It is utterly heartbreaking.’

The cafe opened in October 2016 and was set up by two infant school teachers - Paula Skeggs and Karen Lonergan.

It was a popular place for parents as it provided healthy food and had a large indoor play area.

Paula and Karen said they were devastated by the closure and thanked customers for their support – and said that they hope to reopen at another site in the future.

Karen said: ‘We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our customers for their continued support and friendship over the past three years.

‘We stepped into the unknown of opening the cafe and never have we known a better job for its wonderful customers, big and small.

‘We will take this time to reflect on the wonderful times we have had at the cafe and will endeavour to re-establish the play cafe back into this community that we have so grown to love.’

A statement from the parochial church council of St Faith’s said it was saddened to see the cafe close.

It said: ‘St Faith’s Church was very pleased to host the Pallant House Play Café within parish premises for three years, and was saddened to hear that it is set to close.

‘We understand the anger that has been directed towards the church because of these events, but feel that we have done everything within our power to help the owners at this difficult time, while maintaining our general obligations to all the beneficiaries of our charity.’

The centre is run by St Faiths Church.

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