Gillooly’s Farm is being restored and reimagined as Gillooly’s Gardens, with plans to create a safer, more welcoming destination centred around nature, food, family, community and live culture.
The 44-hectare landmark has been part of the area’s history for more than 80 years. Now, a team with extensive experience in hospitality, events and cultural spaces is taking on its next chapter, with a long-term commitment to maintaining and protecting the public open space.
The aim is to retain the character that generations of visitors have come to know while introducing new reasons for people to visit, gather and spend time in the gardens.
Food and culture at the heart of the new Gillooly’s Gardens
One of the major additions will be Gather, a family restaurant curated by Coco & J. The restaurant is intended to offer a relaxed dining experience where families and friends can enjoy food and hospitality within the park’s natural surroundings.
Food will also play a role beyond the restaurant. The renewed Gillooly’s Gardens experience will include the Good Stuff Market, alongside community events, family-friendly activities and the park’s existing gardens, walking trails and amphitheatre.
Live entertainment is also planned, with a series of shows expected later this year. Details including dates, artists and ticketing information will be announced separately.
For visitors, the result could mean more ways to experience one of Johannesburg’s familiar outdoor spaces without losing the greenery and open-air character that make Gillooly’s Farm distinctive.
A historic Johannesburg green space
Gillooly’s Farm has a long history in Bedfordview. The property was originally owned by James Gillooly before being sold to the city council in 1944 and named in his honour.
Today, the site is known for its lake, walking trails, birdlife, picnic areas and open lawns. It has provided residents with a green escape from the surrounding city for decades.
The Gillooly’s Gardens project is being positioned as a restoration and long-term stewardship project rather than simply a new commercial venue. The gardens and natural environment will remain central, while food, markets, recreation and cultural programming are intended to complement the existing landscape.
According to the team behind the project, community connection, environmental care and public benefit will guide the development.
Coco & J bring food and family to Gather
Coco & J will have a central role in shaping the culinary offering at Gather and the Good Stuff Market.
Image: Supplied
The husband-and-wife duo are known for their work across food, lifestyle, music and entertainment. J’Something, best known as the lead vocalist of Mi Casa, has also built a career as a chef, restaurateur and television personality. Coco is a content creator and entrepreneur, with the pair working together on projects centred around food, family, creativity and connection.
Their involvement in Gillooly’s Gardens brings that focus into a physical destination.
“We want to create a space that brings people together. A space that celebrates good food, good people, community and connection. A space that feels like home,” Coco & J said.
The broader team behind Gillooly’s Gardens brings more than 25 years of experience across hospitality and live experiences. Its portfolio includes restaurants, venues and cultural spaces such as Artistry, The Palace Bar, Company, Katy’s Palace, Sir James Van Der Merwe Bar, The Ivy, Obscura and The Ostrich in Cape Town.
Several more restaurants and bars from the group are also expected to open in Cape Town during 2026 and 2027.
What’s next for Gillooly’s Gardens?
Further details about the restoration, the opening of Gather, the Good Stuff Market, family activities and planned live shows are expected to be announced as the project progresses.
For now, Gillooly’s Gardens represents a new chapter for one of Bedfordview’s established public green spaces. The focus is on bringing together the things that have long made Gillooly’s Farm a place to spend time outdoors, while adding food, markets, entertainment and community experiences.
The ambition is simple: to create a place that people return to regularly, whether for a walk around the gardens, a family meal, a market visit or an afternoon spent outdoors.
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This article was originally written by Miriam Kimvangu for Getaway.
