A New Chapter for Gillooly’s Farm
One of Gauteng’s most recognisable green spaces is entering a new era.
Gillooly’s Farm in Bedfordview is undergoing an ambitious restoration as it is reimagined as Gillooly’s Gardens. The vision is to create a safer, more welcoming public space where nature, food, family, community and culture can come together.
The project is built around a long-term commitment to maintaining and protecting Gillooly’s Gardens as a public open space. At the same time, it aims to introduce new experiences that give Johannesburg residents more reasons to gather, connect and spend meaningful time outdoors.
The goal is to preserve what generations of visitors have loved about Gillooly’s Farm while giving the historic landmark a fresh sense of purpose.
Food, Culture and Community
At the heart of the renewed experience will be Gather, a family restaurant and dining destination curated by Coco & J.
Designed around good food and generous hospitality, Gather will offer visitors a place to meet, eat and spend time together within the gardens.
The wider Gillooly’s Gardens experience will bring together its existing natural environment with walking trails, family-friendly activities, the Good Stuff Market, community events and the amphitheatre.
Live entertainment is also planned for later this year, with a programme of music and performance set to take place within the gardens. Dates, artists and ticketing details will be announced separately.
Preserving the History of Gillooly’s
Gillooly’s Farm has been part of the area’s history for more than 80 years.
Originally owned by James Gillooly, the 44-hectare property was sold to the city council in 1944 and named in his honour. Over the decades, its lake, walking trails, birdlife, picnic areas and open lawns have made it a much-loved escape from the pace of Johannesburg.
Gillooly’s Gardens aims to honour that heritage while introducing a new chapter for the landmark.
Rather than becoming simply an events venue or commercial development, the project is being restored as a botanical garden and lifestyle ecosystem. The natural environment and public experience remain central to the vision.
Food, markets, recreation and cultural programming will complement the gardens rather than overshadow them.
The project is guided by long-term stewardship, community connection, environmental care and public benefit.
The People Behind Gillooly’s Gardens
The team behind Gillooly’s Gardens brings more than 25 years of experience across hospitality and live experiences.
Its portfolio includes a collection of South Africa’s notable restaurants, venues and cultural spaces, including Artistry, The Palace Bar, Company, Katy’s Palace, Sir James Van Der Merwe Bar, The Ivy, Obscura and The Ostrich in Cape Town.
Several new restaurants and bars are also planned for the city during 2026 and 2027.
That experience in hospitality, entertainment and destination development now comes together at Gillooly’s Gardens, with the focus firmly placed on creating a space that can become part of everyday life in Bedfordview.
Coco & J Bring Food, Family and Connection
The vision for Gillooly’s Gardens is closely aligned with the philosophy of Coco & J, the husband-and-wife duo known for creating experiences centred around food, family, music, creativity and connection.
J’Something, best known as the lead vocalist of award-winning band Mi Casa, has also established himself as a chef, television personality and restaurateur.
His wife, Coco, is a content creator and entrepreneur. Together, the pair have built a lifestyle brand rooted in cooking, culture, family and meaningful moments.
Coco & J will play a central role in the culinary curation of Gather, as well as the Good Stuff Market. Their involvement will help shape the food, hospitality and wider experience across both offerings.
Their approach brings a personal element to Gillooly’s Gardens, translating the Coco & J philosophy into a physical destination where Johannesburg can come together.
“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,” says Coco & J.
The ambition is simple: to create a place that is not defined by being the busiest destination in Bedfordview, but by becoming one of its most loved.
A Place to Gather
As Gillooly’s Gardens moves closer to opening its gates, more details will be revealed about the restoration, the opening of Gather, the Good Stuff Market, family-friendly experiences and the live entertainment programme planned for later this year.
The next chapter of Gillooly’s Farm is about more than introducing new restaurants and events. It is about protecting a familiar piece of Johannesburg while creating new ways for people to experience it.
For Bedfordview and the wider Johannesburg community, Gillooly’s Gardens is being shaped as a place to return to, make memories and reconnect with the city’s natural surroundings.
A place to gather, connect and feel at home.
