Charity Friends of Graves Park has raised concerns over a planned Sheffield food festival damaging business for a much-loved cafe during one of its busiest weekends of the year.

A charity interested in the wellbeing of Sheffield’s largest park have raised concerns about the Graves Park Food Festival causing a loss for the Rose Garden Cafe situated nearby.

The festival, which will take place over the August Bank Holiday weekend, will involve an artisan market as well as international food and drink stalls.

Caroline Dewar, the Chair of the Friends of Graves Park charity, said during a meeting of Sheffield City Council on 9 March: “Friends of Graves Park are broadly in favour of events in Graves Park, however it is against the covenants to fence off part of the park and charge for entry.

“Graves park is free to use and a major draw on a bank holiday. This freedom will be seriously impacted by the food fair, as will the business of the Rose Garden Café which the trustees are supposed to be supporting.

“I understand that the Rose Garden Café’s trade was seriously impacted last year by the food fair.

“They took drastically less than they would normally take over a weekend which is why it would be a problem for it to be over a bank holiday.

“They could stand it last year but it will seriously impact their trade this year.”

Although only covering three and a half acres, the festival will take place in the field right beside the Rose Garden Café.

Currently, with every coffee sale in the Rose Garden Cafe, 10p will be donated to its restoration fund.

The festival was also held last year, but its new date as a bank holiday is set to cause more disruption.

Sheffield City Council currently runs the park through the Charity Trustee Sub-Committee.

Councillor Richard Williams, committee chair, said: “My understanding is that the shops around Hillsborough do very well over the Tramlines weekend.

“I’m not saying that will happen in Graves Park but it could do.”

“We will ensure that it’s monitored and if there is a detrimental impact on the Rose Garden Café then we’ll obviously bear that in mind for future years.”

There has been an ongoing conflict between the council and the Friends of Graves Park charity which has launched a petition on the council’s website to alter the details of the park’s stewardship.

The festival has been approached for comment.