An outdoor seating area in an award-winning Loughborough park has been officially reopened following a government-funded project to improve the surroundings.

Charnwood Borough Council carried out the work to the outdoor seating area at Queen's Park café, next to Charnwood Museum.

The revamp includes improved access, a new all-weather canopy, landscaping, and furniture.

The café entrance also features an illuminated archway as well as additional lighting. New shrub and flower beds also surround the seating area.

Steps into the café have been removed and replaced with paving to make the seating area level and improve accessibility. The new canopy provides visitors more protection from the weather.

The improvements are part of the £2.87 million Living Loughborough project which is being led by Charnwood Borough Council, in partnership with Love Loughborough BID.

Loughborough Town Deal secured £16.9 million from the Government's Towns Fund and is backing 11 projects, which in total are worth more than £40 million of investment for the town.

Queen's Park Café is part of the Charnwood Museum building which is owned by the Council. The café is operated by Holly Kirkland.

Cllr Jennifer Tillotson, the Council's lead member for Economic Development, Regeneration and Town Centres, said: "It is fantastic to see the difference the investment has made to the outside seating area and this part of the park.

"I am pleased the improvements have taken place in time for the warmer weather and I am sure park visitors will enjoy sitting outside with their refreshments during the summer months."

Martin Traynor OBE, Chair of the Loughborough Town Deal board, said: "Queen's Park attracts many people to the town, and I am pleased another part of the Living Loughborough project has been delivered.

"Living Loughborough is all about making improvements to the town centre for everyone. This is another example of how town deal funding is bringing a variety of benefits to the area.

"I hope residents, visitors and customers of the café can enjoy the new and improved outside seating."

Holly Kirkland, who has operated Queen's Park Café for over 16 years said: "I am really pleased with the improvements to the outdoor area of the café. Many customers have already enjoyed taking a seat on the new furniture outside under the new canopy.

"I would like to thank customers for their patience and for bearing with us while the works took place."

The Living Loughborough project supported by the Town Deal includes:

• the introduction of new interactive digital trails to encourage people to explore the town centre and its heritage. The trails feature augmented reality which means they will be able to 'see into the past' using a mobile phone app.
• holding more events
• digital signage to showcase local events and information.
• investment in Loughborough Markets including:
• flexibility to create areas to hold different types of events.
• addition of a covered area in Southfields Park to hold events.
• the expansion of CCTV cameras in four locations to improve public safety.
• the creation of a new post with Love Loughborough to support crime reduction in the town centre including the purchase of 100 new radios for traders as part of the retail radio scheme.
• more 1-2-1 support for businesses on topics including using digital technology and marketing.
• improvements to Queen's Park including to the entrances from Granby Street and Granby Street car park, the addition of new information points, new lighting to the bandstand and improved lighting of the Carillon Tower.
• the expansion of free public wi-fi in the town centre to include Ward's End, Devonshire Square, Bedford Square and Queen's Park

To find out more about the Loughborough Town Deal projects, visit: www.loughboroughtowndeal.co.uk

The Town Deal Board involves representatives from Charnwood Borough Council, Loughborough University, Loughborough College, Love Loughborough, Leicestershire County Council, the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership, Charnwood Together Economy and Skills Group, local businesses and Loughborough MP Jane Hunt.