Across the four days of The RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year, Sodexo Prestige catered for over 160,000 people, plus the royally attended Gala preview evening. Now, just over a month later, Sodexo staff are once again preparing floral inspired catering for the largest flower show in the world: RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, which begins on 7 July.
RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Event experts at Sodexo Prestige have provided the catering at RHS Chelsea Flower Show for more than 30 years, a complex event not least because the ‘blank canvas’ venue (the grounds of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea) affords only ten days to set up. The Chelsea Charity Gala preview evening intensifies this challenge, with Prestige serving Champagne and canapés followed by full-service dinner for 1,100 dinners before clearing the service overnight for the horticultural show the next morning.
This year’s Gala evening saw Prestige manage seven bars within a 10 acre showground and a total of 34 companies. Dozens of jeroboams of Laurent-Perrier were uncorked for 5,100 guests to mark the start of the 101st staging of this quintessentially British event on the north bank of the River Thames. Prestigious guests included HRH The Queen and her granddaughter Princess Beatrice along with Sir Michael Parkinson, Piers Morgan, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rowan Atkinson, Sussana Reid, Jeremy Paxman and Stephen Fry.
RHS Hampton Court Flower Show
RHS Hampton Court Flower Show will commence with a spectacular preview evening which opens to the public on 7 July. The event will feature a fireworks display and live music in the magical grounds of Hampton Court Palace and a summer evening promises the perfect opportunity to admire the inspiring gardens and beautiful floral displays before the crowds.
Guests will be able to enjoy the spectacle with a luxury picnic by Saturday Kitchen’s TV presenter James Martin in association with picnics2u, including meat or vegetarian options, a bottle of wine and ‘edible flower’.
The preview evening provides a prelude to the experiential themes of the five-day show itself, the zones: Grow, Escape and Inspire, include a mix of glorious show gardens, dazzling floral displays as well as opportunities to watch planting and country crafts in action and even get involved!
Sodexo Prestige will offer a variety of delicious dining options, from the Champagne & Seafood restaurant to luxurious Garden Picnics. Fully inclusive hospitality is also available within the beautiful Allium Restaurant hospitality suite, the perfect occasion to entertain guests and clients at this quintessentially British event.
Bookings
To book tickets to the daytime show call 0844 338 0338; to book tickets to the preview evening call 0845 3700 128
To book the Allium Restaurant, call 0844 338 7502; to book a Garden Picnic, call the Special Events Team on 0845 3700 128
E-mail: prestigehub@apcoworldwide.com
About Sodexo Prestige
Sodexo Prestige is Sodexo’s sports, leisure and travel division that includes Prestige Venues & Events, the premium service offer for the sports, leisure, conferences and events market with over 50 unique and esteemed venues and events in its collection across the UK. A full list of the events and venues available through Prestige Venues & Events is displayed on its new interactive website www.prestigevenuesandevents.sodexo.com which is supported by a dedicated central team, available online or by phone, to answer customer queries and provide advice.