The FINANCIAL — Aspire Hospitality has won a £2.5m catering contract at Ragley Hall, the Grade I-listed stately home in Warwickshire.
The caterer, a division of the Wokingham-based Aspire Group, will deliver food retail and hospitality services within Ragley Hall Park and Gardens, as part of the five-year deal.
Aspire is investing in the two retail outlets at Ragley Hall, and will be providing event hospitality for the growing number of private and public functions held at the estate, which currently has over 60,000 day visitors a year plus visitors for specific events.
According to Caterer and Hotelkeeper, there are two permanent catering outlets, Bodger's Cabin and Hooke's Café, and this summer there will also be a pop-up restaurant opened in the hall and a marquee for weddings and events.
A team of seven permanent Aspire staff will provide the regular catering services at Ragley Hall, supplemented by other Aspire staff for larger events.
Steven Saunders, co-owner and creative director, said that Aspire Hospitality had been developed with the visitor attraction and stately home market in mind.
"We know from our research that there is a lot of potential to improve the customer experience of food and drink in many visitor attractions, and with the growth of 'staycations' over recent years customers today want good-quality food at prices offering value for money – and that's what we will be providing," he explained.
Sean Valentine, managing director of Aspire, added: "Aspire's ethos of delivering excellent food and service has proven to be a winning recipe, making this the second contract won after securing the CLA Game Fair deal earlier this month.
"Winning the Ragley Hall contract has been the result of an intense tender process, during which our team demonstrated creativity, retail innovation and most importantly respect for the estate and its values."
Aspire has operated at Silverstone Racing Circuit for five years and recently extended the contract for a further eight years.
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