Kudos picks up £3m, five-year deal at Hackney Empire
Kudos has won a £3m contract with the iconic Hackney Empire (pictured).
The hospitality provider, part of the Crown Group, will supply catering at the 1,300-capacity theatre and entertainment venue, manage five bars and chase event bookings through sister company Venue Reservations as part of the five-year deal.
Jon Pryce, managing director of Kudos, said: "We are delighted to win this contract at one of the most popular and prestigious entertainment venues around.
"Kudos has the ability and experience to work alongside venues and use every aspect of its food and entertainment offering, so we are very excited about this new partnership with the Hackney Empire."
Kudos will also manage the former Empire Cafe, a stand-alone high-street cafe for venue customers and the local community.
The cafe will be rebranded as Feed at the Empire Café. It will be the second Feed outlet Kudos has opened, after a successful launch at the Brighton Centre last year. Feed is the Crown Group's high-street retail café brand.
Frank Bordoni, Kudos's food director and former TV chef, will produce the evening events menus. They will include dishes featuring British produce such as smoked Severn & Wye trout, pressed shoulder of Southdown lamb and forced Yorkshire Champagne rhubarb crumble cheesecake.
Kudos manages similar contracts at large venues such as the Royal Centre Nottingham and Derby Live.
Clarie Middleton, chief executive at Hackney Empire, said: "This partnership with Kudos offers excellent opportunities to develop the range and quality of customer services at the Empire.
"This theatre is a remarkable historic building which draws local audiences from Hackney and the East End as well as across London and beyond. In choosing to work with Kudos we knew that they would bring a high standard of service and attention to detail that would enhance the audience's experience of visiting the Empire."
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By Andy Morton
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