Lindley Heritage – the new division created earlier this year by The Lindley Group to develop business in the heritage and arts & leisure venues sectors – has been awarded a £4 million, five year contract extension by Malvern Theatres.
Lindley has been the catering partner at the prestigious West Midlands arts centre since 2005 with the current five-year contract due for review in 2013. Three years into the existing contract, Malvern Theatres has already taken the decision to extend the catering agreement to a full 10-year contract which will see Lindley Heritage manage all aspects of catering and hospitality at the complex until 2018.
Established in 1929, Malvern Theatres underwent an extensive £7.2 million refurbishment programme in 1997 and now comprises two 800-seat auditoria: the traditionally styled Festival Theatre and the modern, flexibly designed Forum Theatre, as well as a 400-seat cinema.
Lindley Heritage has completed the successful transformation of the former Malvern Theatre Restaurant into the newly-named Scene Bistro – a contemporary 80-cover dining area which opened to the public at the end of last month (September).
The £50,000 conversion to a modern bistro was achieved in just two weeks and to complement the new-look, Lindley Heritage has introduced a new range of menus; opening times have been extended to generate further revenue from catering sales; and a new bespoke website has been created which provides an instant online booking facility.
The Scene Bistro now offers an afternoon tea service as well as serving morning coffee and lunch, and as well as providing pre-theatre dinner, the restaurant also now remains open throughout the evening for diners who aren’t attending a performance.
All of the menus throughout the day focus on high quality, freshly-prepared food using locally-sourced and British seasonal produce including local cheeses from the Cheese Cellar; and Wye Valley Smoked Salmon supplied by the Severn & Wye Valley Smokery.
Nic Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Malvern Theatres, added: “The Lindley Group has provided the catering services at The Malvern Theatres since 2005, and we’re delighted with the work they have done on the refurbishment of the Scene Bistro, the new menu concepts they have created and the emphasis they have put on using local produce.
“Introducing afternoon teas and serving meals during the course of the evening as well as offering pre-theatre menus will make greater use of the bistro facilities and will, we believe, attract a new clientele. The whole project really has been a team effort achieved through a partnership approach and we are cementing the relationship by extending the existing catering contract with Lindley Heritage to 2018.”
Adam Elliott, Chief Executive of The Lindley Group, says: “Malvern Theatres’ decision to extend the catering contract at this stage is a real accolade for the newly-formed Lindley Heritage division. It pays testament to the hard work and results that Simon Rogers, Lindley Heritage’s General Manager based at Malvern Theatres and his team have achieved, and the job they have done in transforming the restaurant has been fantastic. I think that really has been the icing on the cake!”
The extension of the Malvern Theatres’ catering contract is the second deal to be clinched by Lindley Heritage which beat off stiff competition to be awarded a five-year contract with Yorkshire’s prestigious new art gallery – The Hepworth Wakefield.