Call for new Café provider for Worksop Library

Inspire: Culture, Learning and Libraries is a charitable community benefit society delivering cultural and learning services across Nottinghamshrie on behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council, The Arts Council England and Department for Education.

Our mission is: "To inspire people to read, learning and enjoy culture."

Worksop Library opened in 2010 and is one of the largest libraries in Nottinghamshire. The library was refurbished in 2020.

Visitor numbers - In 2024/25 Worksop Library attracted over 100,000 visits. This excludes visitors, staff and service users who visit the site to access county council services based in the building. The library is also home to an Inspire College centre.

Events and Activities - Worksop Library has a varied annual programme of events, courses and activities taking place in one of 3 meeting rooms or the library itself. These range from large scale events to regular smaller, weekly and monthly activities which support the library service core offer, such as the popular rhyme, rattle and roll sessions for babies and toddlers. Worksop Library hosts a regular evening Jazz programme and annual Fun Palace which can see over 2,000 visitors a day. See Worksop Library Events our What's On and Learning Course Guide 

As well as Inspire organised events, the library’s suite of meeting rooms are also available for hire by external organisations.  See our Worksop Library room hire information. 

With the number of meeting rooms available for hire, plus the number of regular events and activities taking place in the library, there is potential for the café to appeal to a broad range of customers, staff and learners using and visiting the building.  

There will be opportunity for the café to provide food and refreshments by prior arrangement, to cater for events and activities during the day, evenings and at weekends for both internal and external hirers. Event and activity catering can provide potential additional custom for the café. 

Inspire are seeking a café provider on a concession basis.  We are open minded on the offer and expect the provider to present what they think suitable for the environment and customer base.

The service required is:

• Delivering a café; providing good quality tea, coffee, freshly prepared food and a range of light refreshments at a reasonable price to library customers.

• Provision of agreed consistent opening hours to meet the needs of library users.  The library is only closed on Bank Holidays and between Christmas and New Year. 

• The cafe should complement the overall character and service approach of the library.

Optional - event and conference catering on an ad hoc basis.

Space and Equipment - The café area is around 100 sqm and accessible. A servery with and kitchen with a range of equipment is provided, as well as table and seating for around 60 covers with some space for expansion.

We are looking for a provider to be a partner with us. We are experts in culture, learning and libraries, not running cafés!, so we need you to bring your skills and passion to tell us what will work in Worksop Library and the type of sustainable offer you can provide.

What we need from you: A short written prospectus of your café offer and approach including an outline of your business and financial plan (no more than 4 sides of A4). 

Submissions should be made by 2pm on Friday 20th June 2025 emailed to katharine.say@inspireculture.org.uk

We will then shortlist potential providers and if shortlisted you will be asked to meet and pitch to us on Friday 27th June 2025 at Worksop Library.

A successful provider will then be selected and invited to take up the concession. All bidders will be informed by Monday 30th June 2025.

And finally - We are committed to attracting and recruiting diverse partners and suppliers and welcome applications from underrepresented groups. This concession is ideal for a solo operation, a social enterprise/charity, a start-up or an established provider.

Thank you for taking the time to review this opportunity.

Clarifications – if you require clarification on the concession, please submit these in writing to katharine.say@inspireculture.org.uk by 12 noon on Friday 14th June 2025. All clarifications will be shared with all interested parties and published on the website.

Providers who have not worked with Inspire before will be required to complete a new supplier set up form. 

Concession Guidelines for the service provision can be found below. We recommend you read these before making a submission.

If you would like to visit to see the library and café space and speak to the current provider please contact Library Manager, Steve Powell -  steve.powell@inspireculture.org.uk to arrange a convenient time.