04/2018

The current trend for more vegetarian and vegan food and the desire to be more environmentally friendly will be reflected at some of the most prestigious events on the calendar, according to one of the globe’s leading catering providers.

Sodexo Prestige Venues & Events which run the catering at high profile occasions including The Henley Royal Regatta, Royal Ascot, Chelsea Flower Show and The Open, is predicting a shift in the way visitors are entertained.

And the organisation is already leading the way in not only the new food offerings at these events but also in being imaginative and creative in dealing with the environmental impact.

While the ethos of ‘nose to tail’ dining is nothing new, Sodexo’s chefs are subscribing to ‘root to tip’ in their use of fruit and vegetables and also reviving butchery skills so that there is very little waste.

Ben Dutson, Head Chef for Sodexo at its major events, believes the company is leading the way in reflecting food trends at corporate events.

“Quite rightly consumers care about the environmental impact of their dining out experience,” said Ben.

“And we are very conscious of this. We now buy meat which is less butchered and we do this ourselves which mean there is no waste and we can use every part in dishes, parfaits, sauces and stocks.

“It also means that our young chefs are able to learn these sometimes forgotten skills.”

The Sodexo team has become increasingly more inventive in their use of food, for example when using artichokes in a dish the skins will be dehydrated and then deep fried before being used as a base for canapes.

“Adopting this root to tip ethos allows us to be more creative and have a really positive effect on the environment at the same time,” said Ben.

Sodexo is also fully embracing the trend toward “flexitarianism” – where people move between a plant-based diet and eating meat – by offering a huge range of vegan and vegetarian options at events such as Royal Ascot.

Ben also predicts that the move towards upmarket street food will continue, with barbeque offerings now very firmly on the menu.

“It’s a trend that is going from strength to strength,” said Ben.

Offerings currently on the menu include slow cooked brisket and shoulder of lamb and the use of a green egg barbeque which is used to finish dishes such as Tandoori scallops or to seer marinated fillets of beef after they have been in a waterbath.

The humble burger is also being elevated, with the company having their own burger which is available at all its sporting stadia around the UK and even at the most important golf tournament of the year where visitors love The Open burger.

Twickenham Stadium is launching a campaign to attract more incentive events to the venue. The campaign will draw on #teamwork – one of the core values of the stadium, and the Rugby Football Union (RFU), and is aimed at existing and new customers looking to extend their meetings in the stadium to include an incentive element.

The stadium will be launching a series of summer events packages, including on and off the pitch options and incentive extensions, and Twickenham Stadium is keen to encourage more incentive business to take advantage of the inherent brand values of the venue.

The RFU has a number of core values that Twickenham has adopted within the culture of the meetings and events division, they include #leadership, #sportsmanship and #teamwork. The venue recently launched a report that showed the importance of brand alignment in venue selection and the opportunity for customers to use the RFU values will be a key USP for the venue.

“Teamwork is one of the key personality traits of the RFU, and by definition our own team within Twickenham,” comments Nils Braude, Catering & Conference Events Director, Twickenham Stadium. “Many of our clients come to underline a message to their staff, or enhance their own brand values through ours, and teamwork is one that really resonates with them. These values have extra power when communicated as part of an incentive programme at the stadium.”

“We already have a great response from our clients to pre-event receptions, barbecues on the pitch, or stadium tours, but incentive programmes open up a lot more options within the stadium,” continues Nils. “There is a great opportunity to bring teams together through the sport, either by trying it out in a fun way, or recreating great teamwork moments on or off the pitch. It’s something unique that the heritage of the venue offers.”

As part of the campaign Twickenham will be launching a series of incentive packages for event planners, as well as running a series of marketing and sales activities throughout the spring.

Science Gallery at King’s College London is where art and science collide. The venue will blend new versatile public and private hire space to create dynamic exhibitions, events and performances combined with opportunities to host inspirational meetings, presentations and parties. Science Gallery London is located in the heart of the buzzing London Bridge area.

The scope of opportunities provided by Science Gallery London can vary from simple, catered board meetings to product launches and glittering outdoor events in the architecturally remodeled Guy’s Courtyard. Science Gallery London will even offer a stylish new opportunity for London’s most creative society wedding celebrations.

Spanning three floors, the Gallery offers a place to meet, connect, participate and be inspired by a variety of spaces hosting from 20 to 500 guests. The spectacular lecture theatre with its state-of-the-art tech offering, will put any key speaker centre-stage.  The ground floor’s dynamic design offers opportunities for every kind of event including banqueting for up to 120 guests.  The first-floor gallery is the perfect setting for an elegant cocktail reception. The Studio, also located on the first floor, offers a more intimate private dining space for up to 80 and a balcony with spectacular views of The Shard.  The reimagined Guy’s Courtyard will provide a memorable alfresco event space for up to 500 people.

Chelsey Kendall, venue and event manager for Science Gallery London said; “We believe Science Gallery London will be an exhilarating and market-leading new venue, supporting and supplementing London’s thriving local business community, as well as a new magnet for international corporations looking to showcase their businesses in the world’s leading financial centre.”

For more information about venue hire at Science Gallery London call 020 7848 6999 or visit https://london.sciencegallery.com/hire

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History Meets High Technology in Enhanced Meetings and Events Spaces at Hanbury Manor in Hertfordshire

Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel & Country Club is an impressive 17th century country retreat set in 200 acres of Hertfordshire parkland with a Jack Nicklaus II designed golf course, well-appointed spa and restaurant. World-class service and a prime, well-connected location complete the resort’s outstanding offer. Following an extensive £1.7m refurbishment and development of its meetings and event spaces masterminded by internationally renowned designer, Lucid Interior Design, Hanbury Manor opened its doors to reveal the exquisite results on 5 April 2018.

Designed to create a seamless flow between each meeting and event area, delegates and guests can now enjoy enhanced technology, beautifully designed spaces and a sense of history. Three new meeting rooms have been created - Cedar, Pine and Willow – which can host 10, 8 and 8 delegates respectively. With these new additions, Hanbury Manor now offers 17 individual meetings and events spaces – there is somewhere to suit all delegate and guest requests.

The signature event rooms have been updated with a blend of bespoke and hand-finished pieces using a rich palette of copper, brown and blue and thoughtful references to the local area. Meeting rooms have been updated with innovative technology such as Clevertouch Screens, Smart Write on Walls and ClickShare connectivity. New signage technology will clearly direct delegates around the meetings and events hub and the rest of the resort.

The signature meetings and events spaces include:

• The Thundridge Suite - this multi-functional space now holds up to 200 guests theatre style. It is suitable for informal and private meetings as well as for delegates to unwind.
• Assembly Hall - this refreshed area with polished wooden floors and subtle references to Hanbury Manor’s serene parkland includes a deconstructed rose design in the carpet in honour of the 19^th century rose garden built by James II for Robert Hanbury in 1865. The new rugs and furniture within the Assembly Hall are all hand-crafted from England, Scotland and Italy and the bespoke carpentry reflects the geometric quatrefoil in the garden’s fountains. The Assembly Hall is at the centre of the meetings and events hub. It has the capacity to hold informal group meetings, private meetings and break out spaces for delegates to unwind. The new Cedar, Willow and Pine meeting rooms are included within the Assembly Hall space.
• Poles Hall - the beautiful chapel of the original manor house retains the original distinctive vaulted ceiling and minstrel’s gallery, now rejuvenated with a softer decor and a unique, atmospheric lighting system. The striking bespoke chandeliers and concealed LED lighting will create a soft glow or a dramatic effect depending on the occasion. The new design will create a timeless space that will look beautiful for many years to come. Poles Hall is the perfect setting for a romantic wedding, it can hold up to 180 guests.
• The Garden Court, Summer House and Conservatory - provides an elegantly romantic setting overlooking the original scented  Grade II listed Walled Garden and has space for 160 guests.
• General Manager Russell Prior comments: “We are delighted to welcome guests to experience our improved and inspiring event environments, which celebrates the hotel’s sense of place and heritage while offering the very latest in technology. Our beautiful location in Hertfordshire means we are in a fantastic position for clients looking for an easy escape out of London; for international delegates, we are only a short distance from Luton and Stansted Airports and we have great road and rail links to the rest of the country. Once here, delegates and guests can maximise both their business and leisure experience by enjoying our excellent facilities including our world-class golf course, luxury spa, fantastic restaurants and 200 acres of stunning parkland. We do offer something for everyone.”

Hanbury Manor offers a striking setting and welcoming team who will create a memorable event for meeting and event planners searching for a destination of true distinction and for couples seeking a fairy-tale wedding venue.

For more information regarding Hanbury Manor Hotel and Country Club, please visit www.marriotthanburymanor.co.uk or call +44 (0) 1920 487 722.