Welcome to Castlethorpe  

Community Space CIC 

We are the not-for-profit Community Interest Company which manages the new Community Space called The Pavilion Café & Bar at the Sports Ground in Castlethorpe on behalf of the Parish Council. All residents of Castlethorpe are eligible to be members and the company has eight directors (below) who were elected at the Annual General Meeting on 5 February 2026.

Councillor Phil Ayles and Chris Curtis MP


MP Chris officially opens The Pavilion

The Pavilion Cafe and Bar was officially opened on 22 March by our MP Chris Curtis, who said: "Thank you to the Parish Council and all the villagers involved in this project for having me to share in this moment for you. I hope this will be a much-loved space for residents for years to come.
Councillor Phil Ayles, Chair of the Parish Council, said: "The Pavilion is an amazing achievement by the village working with the Parish Council to create a cafe and bar in a village with no other hospitality venue or place where people could 'drop in'.
"It is a tribute to the generosity of the village supported not only by the Parish Council and residents but also the Milton Keynes Community Foundation, the National Lottery Community Fund and a number of local businesses and organisations. We thank them all most sincerely."

Building The Pavilion Cafe and Bar

  • Our village has been without a pub since the Carrington Arms closed in 2008 and has never had a café or a casual spot for people to gather, even though surveys showed this is the top request from residents.
    In 2022, the owner of the Carrington Arms informed the Parish Council that he no longer planned to redevelop the site and would instead sell it. This prompted the Parish Council to explore building a new Café and Bar. They planned to use a mix of "planning gain" funds, council reserves, a generous grant from the MK Community Foundation, and a low-cost Government loan.
    In 2023, a Parish Advisory Poll showed strong support for the project, with 337 votes in favour and only 56 against.
    The only suitable location was at the Sports Ground. Plans were created to remodel the cricket pavilion, adding larger changing rooms, new toilets, and an extension for a kitchen, serving area and customer seating.
    Construction began at the end of 2023 and was finished by mid-2024. The Parish Council then leased the building to Castlethorpe Community Space, a newly formed Community Interest Company which is owned by its members. Any

  • resident over 18, or non-residents with strong ties to the village, can apply to become a member.
    Castlethorpe Community Space raised additional funds to equip the pavilion with a kitchen, serving area, and customer furnishings.
    This included more "planning gain" funds, large grants from MK Community Foundation and the National Lottery Community Fund and around £10,000 in donations from residents, the Duck Race, the Carrington Trust, Castlethorpe Cricket Club and from Liam Andrews’ Ward Councillors’ fund and several local businesses, including Hickford Construction, Universal Blinds and Diyses.
    This has made a huge difference between an “it will do” Pavilion and a “really great” one, so we say a sincere thank you to everyone who has helped us.
    The Pavilion Café and Bar is now a warm, welcoming space for everyone, especially older residents who can meet friends and enjoy much-needed company.
    It also caters to remote workers looking for a change of scenery and visitors to the outdoor gym and other sporting facilities at the Sports Ground.

Donations

If you would like to donate to improve this wonderful facility, the best way is to make a donation by bank transfer to:
Castlethorpe Community Space
Sort code: 30-99-50 Account No: 24030663
Please confirm your donation by emailing 
castlethorpecommunityspace@gmail.com  

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Contact us

Address

The Pavilion, Thrupp Close, Castlethorpe,
Milton Keynes MK19 7PL

Email

castlethorpecommunityspace@gmail.com

Phone

Castlethorpe Community Space: 07836 504830

© 2026 Castlethorpe Community Space CIC.
Company Number: 15318532    VAT No: 481 3482 83