Port Vale Football Club, which is celebrating its promotion to League 1 next season, has entered into a five year partnership agreement with Lindley Venue Catering, the specialist sports stadia/leisure sector division of The Lindley Group, to manage all the match day and non-match day catering services and develop non-match-day business at the 19,000 capacity Vale Park stadium.
The deal is expected to generate a turnover of around £3.4 million over the period of the contract, with profits being shared.
Lindley plans to enhance the match-day dining experience for fans and visitors by introducing a broader choice of options both on the public concourse and in the corporate hospitality areas. A new 80-cover restaurant serving three-course menus will be created, whilst the offering in the Valiant Suite will put more focus on family dining serving a choice of healthier options alongside food such as Staffordshire oatcakes and Frank’s Original New York Streetdogs, and will run as a cash bar operation.
New menus are being introduced for box holders and the retail offering on the public concourse will be refreshed with Lindley Venue Catering brands such as Frank’s Original New York Streetdogs and FGB – Flaming Good Burgers making their debut at Vale Park next season. Lindley will also operate the Tommy Cheadles venue at the ground.
With both Port Vale FC and the Lindley Group being located in Stoke-on-Trent, the food offering will focus on using locally-sourced produce and making the most of regional specialities – hence the introduction of oatcakes in the Valiant Suite and car parking outlet.
Apprenticeship programme
Further reinforcing Port Vale FC and Lindley Venue Catering‘s commitment to supporting their local community, Lindley will be operating an apprenticeship programme at Vale Park, which will create employment and personal development opportunities in the local area. W Academy & Education, which is owned by Port Vale Football Club Chairman Paul Wildes, will be the partner training provider.