Parley in the park: the café hubs of leafy South West London

SOUTH OF THE River Thames, life slows down a fraction and the landscape becomes greener. The capital is well-known for its density of parks and open spaces – it’s allegedly the greenest city in Europe – and South London has the lion’s share of lush leafiness, with parks covering 34% of the region’s boroughs.

In South West London, there are parks aplenty, from the vast hectares of Richmond and Bushy to the glorious heaths, commons and greens that are focal points for local communities, such as Battersea, Wandsworth and Clapham.

Since the covid pandemic, parks have become even more entrenched in

Londoners’ daily lives, with many who started exercising and socialising in them still carrying on with the habit. Yet some of the cafés within them are real hidden gems, serving as community hubs for locals who know about them, and a well-kept secret from those who don’t.

“These park cafés are amazing places to meet with friends, take the kids after school or stop for a mid-cycle coffee,” explained Andrew Giller, Founding Partner of house. covering Central and South West London.

“They can even be a quiet place to work from in this modern era.”

A resident of Streatham Common for the past 20 years, Lindy Cunniffe explained that she fell instantly in love with her property when she saw it because the common felt like an extension of the garden.

“People are also surprised by just how quiet it is here. It’s very peaceful,” she said.

Lindy is a regular visitor to her local café, The Rookery, on Streatham Common, and says it’s very popular. “We often pop in after a walk. The food is very good. It can get busy but there’s a good covered space outdoors, so even if it’s cold you can sit wrapped up and protected from the rain.

“There’s always something going on at the café, for example, a farmers’ market every month, so it does feel like a good community space,” added Lindy.

Want to enjoy South West London’s park café scene? Here are our top picks…

Battersea Park’s Pear Tree Café, with its tree-lined canopy behind and boating lake to the fore, enjoys a lovely serene setting amidst the bustle of the city.

Since opening in 2016, the Pear Tree has become a mecca for locals seeking authentic seasonal café fare in convivial and picturesque surroundings.

Co-founder Annabel Partridge, who lives nearby and was looking to start a new venture, decided to enquire about the premises after strolling past it with her sister some seven years ago.

“It turned out that the previous people were leaving and things progressed from there. The Pear Tree Café was born,” explained Annabel’s long-time colleague and cofounder Will Burrett.

The pair met while working as sous chefs at Petersham Nurseries and then at Spring Café with the acclaimed Skye Gyngell.

“Annabel and I really enjoyed our time working with Skye and we were a good kitchen duo. We also really got on, so it seemed natural for us to continue after we left. “We’re just very happy that we’re still working together,” added Will.

“When we think of what we took over and where we are now, we take great pride in that.

“We’ve changed so much, from the layout of the building to the menu and we’re still refining what we do to improve – it’s what keeps us going.

“We have two incredibly talented head chefs, but

Annabel and I are still very hands-on, coming up with menus and developing ideas with them.

The menu changes every three months or so and we aspire to create thoughtfully crafted, café-style dishes that are fun, seasonal, innovative and – ultimately – tasty.

“We also have a great relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Our staff – many of whom have been with us from day one –are incredibly welcoming and know a lot of the regulars. There’s a warmth to the service that makes it feel like a real community hub,” said Will.

The café acts as a meeting point for many, from morning coffee commuters to local groups of runners, ante-natal and school-run parents, dog walkers (the café is dog-friendly) and home-workers seeking respite with tea and a slice of cake.

Weekend brunch is busy throughout the year, while in summer the café stays open until 10pm, offering bar snacks, pizzas and a barbecue with live music on certain nights.

Pear Tree Cafe, Lakeside, Battersea Park, London SW11 4NJ. Open 8am–5pm Monday-Friday; 8am–6pm Saturday–Sunday. Normal kitchen hours 8am–3pm.