Grade 2 Listed Ashton Gardens has recently been refurbished in a £2M project to improve the landscape and approaches, and to restore the pavilion as a community facility/cafe, with the aid of a major HLF grant. The project has been widely recognised for the quality and sensitivity of the refurbishment.

The colonial style pavilion was restored to integrate a modern commercial cafe and community centre, offering modern facilities and standards, whilst maintaining the original character of the building.

The refurbishment included incorporation of an air-source heat pump to economically and sustainably provide a comfortable environment. This, along with general low-energy design, has been recognised by the winning of a Green Apple award.

The Ashton institute pavilion is at the heart of the gardens, and the approaches to it have been discreetly lit using ground-recessed uplights and low-level bollards to provide a pleasant, safe and accessible ambiance. These feature the avenues of trees, the Lodges at the main entrance, and, assist in creating an imposing and atmospheric feature of the War Memorial.