Lindley Heritage has been brought on board to enhance the visitor experience at the River & Rowing Museum’s Terrace Café and conference and banqueting facilities.
The appointment is Lindley Heritage’s second museum contract win. The deal is part of a £5 million-plus catering contract by The RAF Museum in Colindale, North London.
Lindley Heritage will be responsible for developing the food offering and catering services at the Terrace Café which is open to the general public as well as museum visitors, and for providing the catering for all functions held at the venue which offers a choice of flexible event facilities including: the 120-cover glass-fronted Thames Room; The Henley Room – a boardroom format which has a capacity for 10 people, and is also used as a break-out room for the Thames Room; and The Schwarzenbach International Gallery – which accommodates up to 180 guests.
Lindley Heritage has undertaken a full review of the Museum’s Terrace Café and is changing the service offering from pre-cooked, canteen style counter food to menus which offer hot food freshly prepared to order and which focus on using locally sourced and seasonal produce from suppliers such as Lawlor’s Bakery and Brakspear Beers.
The Lindley Group has already assisted the Scene Bistro at the Malvern Theatres, the Vaults Restaurant and 1805 function rooms at the Theatre Royal Bath, and at Bristol City FC’s hospitality and event menus at the Ashton Gate Stadium in receiving Silver Food for Life Catering Mark accreditations.
Paul Mainds, chief executive at the River & Rowing Museum in Henley, said: “We approached Lindley Heritage as we wanted a catering partner who would bring fresh thinking and new ideas to revitalise our catering offering – both in terms of the quality of the food and levels of customer service.”
Nigel Hutson, The Lindley Group’s operations director - Heritage, added: “Working with the River & Rowing Museum gives us a great opportunity to showcase the excellent local suppliers and regional produce available in and around Henley and Oxford, and provide catering services which enable the museum’s events team to maximise the potential of their venue.”