Call for new Café provider for Mansfield Central 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."

Mansfield Cental Library opened in 1977 and is the largest library in Nottinghamshire. The library was refurbished in 2010 and the cafe area refurbished and installed in 2022.

Visitor numbers - In 2023/24 Mansfield Central attracted over 151,000 visits, which represented a 19% increase on the previous year. 

Events and Activities - Mansfield Central Library has a varied annual programme of events, courses and activities taking place in one of 5 meeting rooms, the library itself or the 192-seater theatre/auditorium on the second floor.  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. See our What's On and Learning Course Guide. 

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

Mansfield Library is a busy and vibrant place with a lot happening on a daily and weekly basis. There is a lot of potential for the right café provider to make the library café a destination for customers, learners and visitors.

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 200 sqm and accessible via lifts and stairs. A servery with a range of kitchen equipment is provided, as well as table and seating. Access to a larger kitchen is available if required.

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 Mansfield 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). Give an outline of your menu and when you would be open to serve customers.

Submissions should be made by 10am on Monday 10th February 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 Thursday 13th February 2025 at Mansfield Central Library.

A successful provider will then be selected and invited to take up the concession.

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 Monday 3rd February 2024. All clarifications will be shared with all interested parties.

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 you are welcome to do this before the submission deadline of Monday 10th February 2025.

Please contact Jocelyn Hurst jocelyn.hurst@inspireculture.org.uk  and Jane Townsley jane.townsley@inspireculture.org.uk  – Library Managers, to arrange a convenient time.