Food and Beverage Operator for Gisburn Forest Cafe

Forestry England is seeking an experienced food and beverage operator to manage and run Gisburn Forest Cafe. The cafe will serve visitors to Gisburn Forest, located in the Forest of Bowland National Landscape in Lancashire, which attracts approximately 80,000 visitors annually from across the region including Blackburn, Burnley, and Preston. The forest offers diverse recreational activities including 18 miles of mountain bike trails, 10 miles of walking routes, and access to 8 miles of trails around Stock reservoir. The cafe will be central to the visitor experience, serving walkers, cyclists, and event attendees at various activities such as yoga sessions, mountain bike races, outdoor music evenings, crafting workshops, and accessibility conferences. The successful operator will be responsible for food and beverage provision, customer service, and contributing to the overall visitor experience. The tender is expected to be released in late August or early September 2026. Interested parties should register on the Panacea tendering portal at https://app.panacea-software.com/ForestryCommission/Login.aspx to receive notifications when the tender goes live.