Minute on the Clock – Lynda Beverley
Lynda Beverley's catering firm Moving Feasts has won a contract to supply 6,000 dishes to celebrities and VIP guests in the Virgin Media Louder Lounge at the V Festival this week. It is a family-run company based in Essex and sources its produce from local companies such as the Churchgate Sausage Shop in Old Harlow and the eco-friendly tomato farm in Much Hadham Ware. She spoke to Neil Gerrard
Why do you think festival food has such a poor reputation?
Historically, festival food is always burger vans and fast food. I feel that in the last few years festival-goers are getting wiser to what they want to eat. People want good-quality food for the same prices they pay for low-level fast food and they want to feel they are getting all their senses provoked. People don't mind paying a little more for quality locally sourced foods.
How did you get into festival catering?
We started out doing small film productions, which built up our knowledge and reputation for large-scale catering. Because we are a family business we are still highly regarded for the personal touches to our catering. We know what crew need to build a festival and we know what the guest wants (it's not mini-burgers and chips). We work with all people and on all levels with the same ethos, serving good-quality food in unusual surroundings.
This is your third year catering at the Virgin Media Louder Lounge - what have you done to hold on to the contract?
We have lived and worked in the area for over 20 years. We have built sturdy relationships with some fantastic food suppliers, delivering locally sourced quality food from people that are as passionate as us. We know that our client, Simon Dornan at Virgin Media, is always striving for local, sustainable activities and food for his hospitality area, so we pull out all the stops each year to bring new local and premium additions to the Virgin Media Louder Lounge.
You use a lot of local suppliers - how do you find the best?
We are always on the hunt in our area for new suppliers. Our suppliers are at the top of their game; they advise us and we eat their food. If we like it, it gets served - we never serve anything we have not tried ourselves or sampled with our friends and family.