New Pennington Flash café is the perfect Hide-out
Deputy Leader Coun Keith Cunliffe cuts the ribbon at The Hide Coffee House
A fabulous lakeside café is ready to serve up fresh coffee and delicious delights to nature lovers at Pennington Flash.
The Hide Coffee House officially opened its doors on Thursday (2 March) as part of a brand-new visitor centre at the popular Leigh beauty spot.
Open seven days a week, the wildlife-themed venture combines a mouth-watering menu with a relaxed, friendly atmosphere and stunning views across the water - making it a sure-fire hit with customers looking for a taste of the great outdoors.
Councillor Keith Cunliffe, Deputy Leader of Wigan Council, said: “Whether you’re enjoying a day out with the family, catching up with old friends or simply walking the dog, The Hide Coffee House is the perfect place to take some time out, relax and enjoy our glorious surroundings with a drink and a bite to eat.
“We know people have been so excited ahead of our official launch and we hope they’ll be as delighted as we are with the results! Pennington Flash is a place close to so many people’s hearts and the team have done an incredible job creating an experience that really complements our wonderful nature reserve.”
Drawing inspiration from the natural beauty of the Flash, the café features a colourful indoor mural by local artist Jessica Riley (Instagram @oh.so.specials) depicting wildlife such as the rare and nationally significant willow tit. It also has an attractive outdoor decking area ideal for the warmer months.
The menu boasts a variety of breakfasts, lunches, cakes, pastries and ice creams - including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options - while the dog-friendly venue even sells artisan treats for customers’ four-legged friends.
Café manager Yvette Merga said: “We really wanted to bring the independent coffee house experience to the great outdoors and I hope people love the vibe we’ve tried to create.
“Pennington Flash is such a special place and that meant our café had to be special too, so we’ll be using only the finest suppliers and partnering with local producers where possible to give our customers the best experience.”
The café and visitor centre are part of a £2.7m council makeover of facilities at the nature reserve, with new accessible toilets installed along with upgrades to parking - including electric vehicle charging points. Work on a new adventure playground for families is also set to begin in the coming weeks.
Councillor Chris Ready, portfolio holder for communities and neighbourhoods, said: “Pennington Flash has been a source of local pride for generations and is now a certified national treasure as part of the Flashes of Wigan and Leigh National Nature Reserve declared by Natural England last October.
“These fantastic new facilities are all about giving our visitors the best possible experience and allowing more and more people to connect with the beauty of our natural environment, and I’m sure our amazing new café will be a massive success!”
The Hide Coffee House is open 9am-4pm from November to March, and 9am-7pm from April to October.
Follow @thehidecoffeehouse on Facebook and Instagram.
Posted on Friday 3rd March 2023