Tottenham toilet block enjoys new lease of life as community café

A church has also been renovated as part of the council’s ‘Shaping Tottenham’ programme

Dubai Coffee unveiling (credit Haringey Council)

The transformation of a run-down toilet block into a new community café in Tottenham has been celebrated.

The former toilets in the Bruce Grove area of Tottenham High Road have been converted and extended into the new café hosted by Dubai Coffee, including new accessible public toilets, to bring the small Victorian building back into use.

Haringey Council leader Peray Ahmet and cabinet member Ruth Gordon joined ward councillors, traders and residents to celebrate the transformation taking place.

In addition, nearby St Mark’s Methodist Church has been renovated with a new frontage, windows and car park.

Both schemes have been made possible with funding from the council and Historic England, alongside City Hall’s ‘Good Growth’ funding for the café and support from the congregation at St Mark’s for that project.

Cllr Gordon said: “We have amazing architectural gems across our borough, and I’m delighted these two valued assets have been restored.

“The projects will bring far-reaching benefits to Tottenham and not only honour our pledge to improve the high street but also the area’s heritage.

“We’ve worked side-by-side with the community on both restorations, and it’s been great to see co-production and people’s creativity put into action.”

The Bruce Grove café project, which includes a new garden room extension, was championed by local campaign group The Last Elm who worked with the council and heritage experts to capture and protect the significance of the building, both above and below ground.

Built in 1938 and often likened to the South Bank’s OXO Tower, the St Mark’s frontage and square tower stand as a visual focal point for Bruce Grove Conservation Area. The main entrance to the church has been transformed with new doors, canopy, lighting and signage as part of the project, which has involved the community shaping the future look and feel of the area.

Currently serving as a hub for both community and commercial activities, St Mark’s is home to five businesses and hosts a congregation of around 300 people of all ages.

The projects are part of the wider Shaping Tottenham programme, which was built on engagement via Tottenham Voices, a collaboration between local communities, the council and partners to develop priorities for Tottenham’s future.

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