Tender opportunity: Canalside cafe, bar and catering operation
Paddington Development Trust (PDT), established in 1998, engaged in the economic, environmental and social regeneration of the North Westminster and wider west London area, would like to invite tenders for running the cafe, bar and catering facilities for a major and exciting new canal-side venue within the newly restored and extended St Mary Magdalene Church (SMM).
St Mary Magdalene, a church of historic significance, will continue to be open as a place of worship. The new building will be renamed and run as a commercial venue and community business to include the newly restored Nave and Undercroft, a new Annex comprising cafe, separate kitchen, bar, and a large meeting/seminar room. PDT and SMM have raised over £6,000,000 toward final cost of the project.
The venue is situated in a green area facing the Grand Union Canal within easy walking distance of Warwick Avenue, Little Venice, Paddington Station and Harrow Road with transport links through Warwick Avenue tube station, Paddington mainline and tube station.
The venue will deliver a mixed offer of arts, community and cultural events alongside corporate and conference hire. It will attract an eclectic audience both locally and from across the city. An estimated 100,000 visitors are expected to visit the new venue, spilt between commercial, corporate, cultural visitors and local audiences.
PDT is interested in tenders that will be reflective of the local community and its rich cultural heritage, and have the potential to excite visitors and turn the Cafe into a destination to support PDT's broader remit of urban regeneration of the area.
The contract will be for a three-year period from May 2019. The appointed caterer will operate on a concession basis and have overall responsibility for staffing, the food and beverage offer of the cafe as well as the opportunity, alongside private contractors, to supply catering services for private events. This matter will be subject to a separate agreement.
To express an interest and for further details, please e-mail sarahr@pdt.org.uk by 22 February 2019. Contract start date: May 2019.