Mega-restaurants to feature at new Wembley stadium

Four mega-restaurants will be key features of the catering operation at England's new £757m Wembley National Stadium when it opens in 2006.

The catering facilities, which will be operated by US company Delaware North, will include 688 refreshment points, compared with 152 in the old Wembley Stadium.

The largest hospitality venue within the 90,000-seat stadium will be run as a 1,800-cover restaurant on match days and become London's largest banqueting venue on non-match days. Two of the other mega-restaurants will each accommodate 1,300 covers, while the fourth will cater for about 1,500 covers.

There will be 160 private boxes, with capacity for eight, 12 or 20 spectators, and individual kitchens for every two boxes.

"Diversity and quality will be key to the operation," said Nick Barron of the Football Association. "Everything from noodles to Yorkshire pudding will be served in the new stadium."

Delaware North won the prestigious contract as a result of its track record in catering at major sporting venues in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Based in Buffalo, New York State, it is one of the largest private companies in North America, having been set up by the Jacobs family in 1915.

Wembley will be Delaware North's only contract in the UK.

It is expected that 30 major events, each with an attendance of more than 50,000 spectators, will take place at the stadium each year, including the FA Cup Final and the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final.

About 2,500 catering staff will be employed on match days. During the rest of the year, the facilities will be used for major hospitality events.

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 22 - 28 May 2003