We love South Norwood Country Park – a perfect mix of wild and wonder for adults and kids alike. It is also one of the few Croydon green spaces with a lake – an idyllic spot to watch nature, nestled at the north end of the park. There is even a kids’ playground, which is a bonus for a place that feels so wild. Next to the playground sits a kiosk, run by members of the local community, providing creative workshops, events and – of course – some all-important snacks and drinks (and coffee for playground parents). We caught up with the kiosk’s co-directors Lucy Hopkins and Veronica Saez to find out more.

Croydonist: Tell us more about the kiosk…

Lucy: The Kiosk exists to build connections – a place where community and creativity flourish in nature.

Operating as a nonprofit volunteer-run hub in South Norwood Country Park, we provide a welcoming space where locals can connect, participate in creative workshops and events, and develop a deeper relationship with their local green space. Our community café is open every Saturday 9am-2pm.

We believe everybody deserves somewhere to pause, create, and belong. We’re committed to ensuring the park remains a safe, inclusive and vibrant space for all who live here – where community is actively nurtured.

Left: Bertie up a tree looking for a fairy at one of The Kiosk community events. Right: The one and only Dame Kelly Holmes in The Kiosk with Connie Butler and Emily Williams.

Croydonist: How did it start?

Veronica: In 2022 Lucy, along with Norman Murray and a group of local residents and parents got together with the aim of reclaiming the disused pitch and putt kiosk in South Norwood Country Park for community use. The Visitor Centre and toilets had been fire damaged in the first lockdown and there was no clear plan back to use for the building.

After much negotiating with Croydon Council a license to operate was secured and we got the keys in January 2024 (just as the electricity supply cables were stolen). We started with creative nature based workshops and fun outdoor play. We got the electricity back in September 2024 and hot drinks quickly followed.

The Kiosk is now licensed from Croydon Council and operates as a CIC (founded in June 2025) with volunteers running it as a community creative hub and cafe on Saturdays 9-2pm. The Kiosk was initially supported by National Lottery Awards for All Fund and Croydon Loves You.

Croydonist: Who runs it?

Lucy: The Kiosk is run by me and Veronica, Community Hub Organiser Connie and our amazing group of local volunteers.

Croydonist: What happens there?

Veronica: We have a cafe open 9am-2pm on Saturdays as well as a seasonal programme of fun and inclusive events tied into the seasons for SoNo locals. Coming up we have fresh flowers available to buy on Valentines Day, a Spring Equinox Wellbeing Day on Saturday 21 March, Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday 4 April and our Big Summer Party on Saturday 18 July!  We also run the Kiosk Craft Club on the last Saturday of the month for kids, as a free drop-in workshop!

Croydonist: What have been the highlights so far of running the kiosk?

Lucy: Watching the community embrace us and offering free activities for locals, we are making the park safer and more welcoming for everyone to get out, enjoy nature and meet other locals!

Croydonist: What challenges have you encountered?

Veronica: We faced huge challenges with our electricity and had to use community power with a local petition to lobby the council to get it re-instated after many delays, it worked! We have also encountered vandalism. The visitor centre in the park is currently derelict and we would love to see this put to use for the community.

Croydonist: And any final words?

Lucy: Shout out to our park community, Park Run and the Friends of SNCP, in SoNo we love South Norwood Community Kitchen, Socco Cheta, Croydon FC, Norwood Junk Action, Stanley Arts and in Croydon we love Turf Projects!

Thank you to Lucy and Veronica for chatting with us. Follow The Kiosk on Instagram, and why not visit one Saturday between 9am and 2pm and/or join one of the kiosk’s events below:

Valentine’s Day – Sat 14 Feb – fresh flower bunches and pastries

Kiosk Craft Club – every last Saturday of the month from Feb 11-2pm, drop in!

Spring Equinox Wellbeing Day – Sat 21 March

Easter Egg Hunt – Sat 4 April

Big Summer Party – Sat 18 July

Images courtesy of The Kiosk at South Norwood Country Park, except image 5 (by the Croydonist).

Posted by Julia