CH&Co strikes ‘flagship' deal with Harrogate Convention Centre worth £10m in turnover
The deal will see CH&Co responsible for the F&B offering across the entire 147,000 sq ft site, including event hospitality, four grab-and-go retail outlets, four bars and a fleet of mobile units.
Due to the changeable nature of the visitor demographic, the firm's bid offered a suitably flexible approach to F&B. The site features six exhibition halls on top of the 2,000 capacity auditorium and the 1,000 capacity royal hall - and hosts events from children's theatre, to industry exhibitions, to music and comedy performances.
The offering will also feature a public-serving café - with the King's suite being modified to feature an internal and external-facing counter to provide barista coffee, beverages and fresh food.
Dean Lindsay, managing director for CH&Co, said: "We're very excited to be working with the Harrogate Convention Centre. The new partnership strengthens our position in the conference and exhibition venue market, with the Harrogate Convention Centre becoming our flagship venue in this arena.
He added: "The new direction that we're taking celebrates the site's heritage and the town of Harrogate, whilst offering innovative, tailored solutions that maximise efficiencies and sales opportunities. We're also creating uplifting food and drink experiences for the centre's clients and visitors and it's great that this will also extend to Harrogate's residents and visitors."
Harrogate Convention Centre director, Simon Kent, said: "The team at CH&Co has impressed us with its commitment to Harrogate and to developing our business alongside their own.
"They have taken up the running of the full catering offer at the Convention Centre. It's a major undertaking which encompasses everything from awards dinners and banquets to providing tea and coffee during breaks in events.
"CH&Co has a diverse portfolio and we are their biggest site in the convention and exhibition venue market. They have a hugely talented team and the company's ethos is recognising that each client, event and location has different needs. Their ability to tailor catering to very different occasions will be a real strength considering the diverse calendar events we hold here."
