When we say San Remo is a family-run business, we genuinely mean it. Today, the company is managed from our head office in Black Park, but its roots stretch back to the early 1960s.

The Early Years

When the founder arrived in the UK from Italy at the age of 18 to take up a sponsored job as a hospital boiler stoker. The work was tough and poorly paid, and it quickly became clear that there were better opportunities to be found. Starting with a single barrow selling hot dogs, the business soon expanded, doubling income and adding a second barrow not long after. This early success led to the purchase of an ice cream van, proudly bearing the San Remo name for the first time. That marked the beginning of what would eventually become today’s modern catering business.

In the early 1980s, the family took over the café in Battersea Park. The next generation grew up in the café, learning the business hands-on and developing a strong foundation in café operations and customer service. The café was successfully run for many years until the lease eventually expired—but that was far from the end of the San Remo story.

Modern Era

San Remo began a new chapter in 2004 when the second generation of the family acquired the lease for the café at Streatham Common, South London. This marked the beginning of a heartfelt mission: to create welcoming, community-focused cafés nestled in the heart of nature. Tooting Bec Common Café soon followed, expanding the San Remo presence across South London’s green spaces.

In 2009, Black Park joined the portfolio, along with a kiosk that evolved into the now-beloved Four Seasons Café & Langley Park Tearooms (2010) which was a lottery-funded project, thoughtfully designed to reflect the park’s tranquil beauty.

Northala Fields Café was a standout collaboration with Ealing Council. The park itself was built using waste from the Wembley Stadium project, forming three walkable hills with panoramic views of London. The café sits between two hills, serving as a central hub for visitors. Ruislip Lido Café was a new build responding to the popularity of one of London’s few beach locations, offering a vibrant space for the growing number of visitors.

In 2014, after a major refurbishment, Brent Lodge Park Café reopened as Café San Remo, complementing the historic zoo—affectionately known as Bunny Park for its famous giant rabbits.

That same year, Black Park Café received a modern refresh, adding more indoor seating to welcome guests year-round.

The journey culminated in a close partnership with Bucks Council to deliver a state-of-the-art modular building—the new Four Seasons Café, a shining example of innovation and community collaboration.

In 2019, the third generation of the family joined the business, bringing new energy and helping to expand the event portfolio investing in new mobile catering units with a modern fresh look. Members of the family remain actively involved in day-to-day operations and can often be found working in the cafés, ice cream vans, and catering trailers reflecting San Remo’s continued hands-on, personal approach. In an age where many cafés are operated by large, faceless chains, San Remo takes pride in offering a personal, community-focused experience.

Today, several members of the founding family remain actively involved in day-to-day operations and can often be found working in the cafés, ice cream vans, and catering trailers reflecting our customers remain at the heart of everything we do.