Event caterers Eat to the Beat have played their part in maritime history keeping the crew behind the scenes shipshape for the launch of Britain’s biggest ever cruise liner – P&O Cruises’ Britannia was officially named at a ceremony at Ocean Terminal, Southampton, on Tuesday 10 March.
The naming ceremony was orchestrated by Chicago-based experiential communications agency Under the Radar which chose Eat to the Beat to take care of its large technical crew responsible for all aspects of the build-up to the spectacular event. The assignment involved a ten-strong team from Eat to the Beat providing meals and refreshments for several hundred technicians, talent and press over the five days leading up to the launch, the day itself and Wednesday’s take-down.
The naming celebration took place on a specially constructed stage on the Southampton dock adjacent to theBritannia berth. More than 1,500 guests including dignitaries, politicians, business leaders, travel industry executives as well as a host of celebrities attended. The ceremony, hosted by Rob Brydon, the Welsh actor, comedian and singer, was also viewed by a global online audience.
The Britannia is P&O’s new flagship: costing £500million, she will carry 4,324 passengers and 1,398 crew. The 330 metre long ship, which has 13 restaurants, four swimming pools and a 936-seat theatre, was built in Italy.
Britannia boasts Britain’s largest floating art collection, containing more than 8,000 artworks. The multi-million-pound art collection represents a new approach by P&O Cruises with works chosen to complement and enhance the interior design giving the feel of a luxury hotel.
The cream of British culinary talent
P&O Cruises has assembled the cream of British culinary talent. The new ship’s Food Heroes includes an unprecedented line up of the country’s celebrity chefs.
Popular TV chef, James Martin, is developing The Cookery Club, the first cookery school on board a British cruise ship. Passengers will be able to participate in a hands-on class with guest chefs on board in a state-of-the-art cookery school.
About Global Infusion Group
Originally launched in 1984 as Eat to the Beat – an artist, production and crew catering business specialising in backstage catering services for music, entertainment, film and TV industries – the company has catered many of the biggest names in the entertainment world. Eat to the Beat provides backstage catering support for international tours, major festivals such as Glastonbury and Reading, concert venues and TV and film locations.
Additional divisions were added to the Eat to the Beat brand as the business evolved and diversified and now includes a bespoke corporate & private party planning, catering and event design division in 1988 (GIG); global sport and automotive event catering (GIG SPORT) in 2002 and a logistics and brand support division to promote predominantly food and drink products (e2Bsince 1997. All divisions trade under the umbrella of Global Infusion Group which has its UK headquarters in Chesham, Bucks.
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