As detailed in our February update on our review of the provision of catering services here at Brunton Park both for match days and non-match days.
Click HERE as a reminder of that article.
And we can now confirm the stadium catering arrangements which will be in place from 1 June 2021.
As a club, from that date, we will be bringing all hospitality and catering services in-house.
Chief executive Nigel Clibbens explained: “This is a break with the recent tradition which has seen our catering services fully contracted out to a third-party provider for many years now, the last being abm Catering.
“As far as supporters are concerned going forward, and for visitors or for people who hire and use our facilities on non-match days, it will now be a club catering operation. This is a major change for the club.
“We must, of course, adopt a realistic approach and recognise the issues we may face in taking over this operation at this time. We know that the provision of good quality catering is important to our fans, and it is an area that has been a challenge even for specialist operators.
“For that reason we acknowledge that to take this step on our own is not practical - the risk would be too great.”
“Therefore we have teamed up with highly respected local business John Watt & Son who will work with us behind the scenes to provide essential catering and hospitality expertise and support,” he continued. “We will operate a partnership approach with them, but catering will be run on a day-to-day basis as a new Carlisle United catering operation, and a fresh start.
“We are delighted to have been able to make this move and that we have John Watt & Son here alongside us. Keep checking the official channels for more information in the coming days.”
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Bookings can be made from 10am on Tuesday 25 May for non-matchday stadium events and parties taking place from 1 June 2021.
Ring 0330 094 5930 [select option 6] between 10am and 5pm during business hours or email catering@carlisleunited.co.uk with your non-match day enquiries.
Ring 0330 094 5930 [select option 3] for enquiries about match day hospitality in Foxy’s, and for sponsorship and advertising opportunities for the 2021/22 season. Alternatively email commercial@carlisleunited.co.uk.
Full details of available catering and hospitality opportunities to follow tomorrow morning (Tuesday 25 May)!
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“We have considered many options and listened to a lot of people who have come in and shown interest,” the chief exec told us. “We believe the time is right to move in a different, new direct direction.
“We believe that having full control of catering will allow us to improve all aspects of the experience. It will be a journey, and it may be a bumpy road, but we want to take the first step and get moving as soon as we can.
“This is a really important move for the club given the need to recover from the impact of coronavirus and the return of fans after such a long time. We are delighted to have been able to make this move, with such key support behind us.
“There will be a lot of information to follow, but we are open for business from 1 June and bookings can be taken now! The club will be in control, but in the background we will have support and expertise on hand at all times.
“We are working hard behind the scenes to make this move a success – it won’t be easy, but we are fully focused on making it work properly, professionally and successfully.
“There are a lot of benefits to doing this, both for the fans and the club. It’s a big opportunity, and it’s something I feel our supporters want and will welcome, hence we believe our fans will get behind us and support us in making it a success.
“I said at the recent forum, in response to a question on growing income, that catering was part of the plan, and this demonstrates that commitment.
“In the coming days and weeks we will announce further details of changes to be made and on how we will be putting fans at the heart of future developments.”
Every pound of profit we make will be reinvested in the club to make us better. Spending by fans and businesses in the ground on our catering services will benefit the club more than ever before.
