Northcote scores major Offsite goal

Craig Bancroft and chef Nigel Haworth, co-proprietors of one-Michelin-starred Northcote Manor in Lancashire, have started their first major foray into outside catering, securing a five-year contract to provide corporate hospitality at Ewood Park, home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club.

The contract, worth £1.5m a year in turnover, covers the corporate boxes and four banqueting suites on match and non-match days but does not include the Blues Bar Café or the food stalls.

Haworth will oversee the kitchen, but will continue to cook at Northcote Manor. Simon Bower will become head chef at Ewood Park, which will be called Northcote at the Rovers. It will be the main activity of the contract catering arm, Northcote Offsite, set up a few months ago.

"We will use this as a base to develop corporate venues, conferencing and further catering activities," said Bancroft. "Our long-term strategy is to make a profit and be able to make further investments into Northcote Manor."

On match days, Haworth estimates, the company will serve 800 meals. "We want to offer quality and take football catering on to another level," said Haworth.

Northcote Offsite is investing £200,000 into providing electronic point of sale systems, china, crockery and glassware for the site, while Blackburn Rovers Football Club will invest in kitchen facilities.

The contract begins on 1 July and Northcote Offsite will need to recruit 12-14 staff.

By Sara Guild