Business Opportunity Prospectus September 2015 Catering and hospitality services Exploring specialist catering and hospitality interest in operating and further developing a number of conference and visitor attractions in Belfast, Northern Ireland www.belfastcity.gov.uk
Contents 1. Introduction 4 2. The opportunities 6 Package 1 Belfast Waterfront Conference and Exhibition Centre and Ulster Hall 6 Package 2 Visitor and tourist attractions 8 3. The current position 10 Package 1 Belfast Waterfront Conference and Exhibition Centre and Ulster Hall 10 Package 2 Visitor and tourist attractions 12 Belfast Castle 12 Malone House 14 The Stables Coffee Shop 16 Belfast Zoo 18 4. The process and response requirements 20 Belfast City Council continues to invest in developing the City and between 2012 and the end of this year, will have invested in excess of 150 million in capital regeneration. 3
1. Introduction Belfast is increasingly recognised as a successful, peaceful and dynamic City. Prior to the global economic downturn Belfast had enjoyed a decade of sustained economic growth. Even through the downturn, Belfast has continued to develop its growing reputation as a top cultural and tourism destination, a leading venue for world-class events and a location of choice for foreign direct investment and creative industries. It has built on a platform of political stability, a relatively young population and a skilled workforce. In addition, Belfast City Council continues to invest in developing the City and between 2012 and the end of this year, will have invested in excess of 150 million in capital regeneration. Projects such the Waterfront Conference and Exhibition Centre, the Green Economy Business Park and the Innovation Centre collectively represent a 36 million pound investment in Belfast and demonstrate that Belfast s development is continuing apace. Belfast has a distinctive food tradition and rich heritage influenced by the geography, climate and its people. Talented chefs and superb local produce means the City has one of the tastiest food scenes in the UK or Ireland. Northern Ireland is gaining renown for the quality of its local food producers, and in the last decade has seen a proliferation of artisan food producers, growing Belfast s reputation as a food destination. hospitality experience for our visitors, we are exploring the possible options across a number of entertainment venues and tourist/visitor attractions across the City. Through this market engagement exercise, we are seeking exploratory discussions with, and may subsequently invite expressions of interest from, any organisation interested in operating and further developing the catering and hospitality opportunities across several conference, exhibition and visitor venues which have been divided into two packages: Package 1 Belfast Waterfront Conference and Exhibition Centre Ulster Hall Package 2 Belfast Castle Malone House The Stables Coffee Shop, Lady Dixon Park Belfast Zoo This exercise is intended to assess the level of interest from potential catering and hospitality partners; attract innovative options for development of the catering services and facilities at the venues and inform the process by which we will select catering and hospitality partners (or other delivery solutions). Driven by the scheduled opening of the newly extended Waterfront Conference and Exhibition Centre in Spring 2016 and our vision to provide a quality catering and 4
Leisure Catering Transformation and hospitality Programme services 5
2. The opportunities Package 1 Belfast Waterfront Conference and Exhibition Centre and Ulster Hall The original Belfast Waterfront Hall was opened in 1997, and has been Northern Ireland s premier conference and concert venue since its development as the flagship project within the wider Laganside regeneration programme of the late 1980s and early 1990s. As an award-winning venue, it has developed into a major international arts and entertainments centre, attracting leading performance artists from around the world. IMEKO (International Measurement Confederation) World Congress Sept 2018 As a leading venue, we need to cater for a wide range of customers and visitors at conferencing, banqueting and entertainment events. We are looking for an operator that can develop a food and drinks offering to provide distinctive regional flavours suitable for a wide range of international visitors. In October 2014, a 29.5 million expansion plan started to extend the existing iconic Belfast Waterfront Hall building and create the Belfast Waterfront Conference and Exhibition Centre (BWCEC). The new development, extending outwards alongside the River Lagan, will more than double the size of the existing venue and will allow Belfast to compete in the international conference, exhibitions and events market. It is estimated the investment will provide an economic benefit of 45 million to the City by 2020. The venue has already secured almost 50 international and national associations conference bookings to date, including: We are seeking commercial expertise and possibly capital investment in the catering operations to maximise long term return. Organisations that might be interested in the opportunities need to have expertise in conference and entertainment catering and could be local, regional, or national businesses. In order to maximise the benefit of local knowledge and management of an international venue, we are prepared to consider possible partnership approaches. We therefore do not wish to be prescriptive, and at this stage we are interested in exploring any proposals that are viable and compatible with the aims and ethos of the venues. Annual International Surgical Congress of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland (ASGBI) May 2016 World Credit Union Conference July 2016 67th Annual Meeting of the European Federation of Animal Science Sept 2016 Leisure Catering Transformation and hospitality Programme services 6
Leisure Catering Transformation and hospitality Programme services 7
Package 2 Visitor and tourist attractions The catering operations are diverse in nature with outlets such as Belfast Zoo and The Stables Coffee Shop, Lady Dixon Park being solely visitor (retail) related; while Malone House and Belfast Castle are both visitor (retail) and event related. Consequently we are looking for an operator that has strength, depth, knowledge and experience in operating and developing these types of catering operations. We are seeking commercial expertise and possibly inward investment in the catering operations of these tourist/visitor attractions which will enhance their attractiveness, raise awareness and fully develop the catering opportunity and potential of these venues further. Organisations that might be interested in these opportunities could be specialist meeting/event operators and/or catering retail operators with a local, regional, or national emphasis. Whilst ideally we would prefer to have one catering operator managing all four sites, we are prepared to consider the many alternative options available. We do not wish to be prescriptive, and at this stage we are interested in exploring any proposals that are viable and compatible with the aims and ethos of the venues. A summary of each of the venues is provided and further detailed information is available at http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/tourism-venues/tourism-venues.aspx Leisure Catering Transformation and hospitality Programme services 8
Leisure Catering Transformation and hospitality Programme services 9
3. The current position Package 1 Belfast Waterfront Conference and Exhibition Centre and Ulster Hall The original Belfast Waterfront Hall has been Northern Ireland s premier conference and concert venue since its development as the flagship project within the wider Laganside regeneration programme of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Opened in January 1997, it has developed into a major international entertainment venue, attracting leading performance artists from around the world. Today the Belfast Waterfront Conference & Exhibition Centre project is the flagship scheme within Belfast City Council s investment programme 2013-15. A 29.5 million extension, co-funded by Belfast City Council ( 11 million); Northern Ireland Tourist Board ( 4.1 million) and the European Regional Development Fund ( 14.4 million) is currently under construction with a scheduled opening planned for late Spring 2016. The extended venue will provide: Over 2,500m 2 of flat floor exhibition and conference space Flexible break out meeting space for 1,000 people Banqueting facilities for 750 people Dedicated reception and registration space which is fully integrated with the existing venue to provide multi-functional and flexible spaces for conferencing, banqueting and entertainment events. Catering services Catering services currently include meeting the daytime food and beverage needs of conference customers, with delegate numbers that can range from 10 to 3,000 people in a single sitting. The scale of events will be increased when the extension is completed in Spring 2016. Dining provision within the venue has always been flexible. Many major functions use the unique ambience of the galleries or designated function suites within the building for seated and buffet meal services. The ability to manage separate functions simultaneously is a major service requirement. Alongside national and international conferencing business, the venue offers a full annual programme of entertainment events ranging from major rock concerts, to orchestral performances, and from stand-up comedy to Christmas Panto, with full capacity audiences regularly achieved. In addition to fixed bar facilities on two floors, the venue provides mobile bars to meet the needs of daytime and evening concert events. The Arc Brasserie at the Waterfront Conference and Exhibition Centre has a prime position with views overlooking the River Lagan from an accessible open terrace. A kitchen is directly adjacent to the service area. Arc operates as a restaurant on event nights, and at other times, this versatile space is a key part of the suite of corporate meeting rooms available for hire. It has in recent years been used for barbecues, Christmas parties and wedding receptions. The venue is managed by the same team as The Ulster Hall, a Victorian concert hall located in the city centre. The building is focused on a central 10
auditorium, The Grand Hall, and a first floor minor hall. The building is largely entertainment focused with the events diary split between high volume standing rock concerts and frequent orchestral performances. Given its historic nature, the venue lends itself to niche programming and whilst it has very limited circulation space, there is potential for developing a catering offering in keeping with this. Challenges and opportunities For the first time the two city centre venues will share a single catering service partner with the opportunity to develop a high quality catering offer at The Ulster Hall and the extended Belfast Waterfront Conference and Exhibition Centre. The spatial limitations at The Ulster Hall will present a challenge in servicing the volume alcohol sales expected at standing concerts so we are open to operators ideas and solutions. Audiences at the Belfast Waterfront present an opportunity as the full potential for extending their stay in the bar and increase their per head spend is unrealised. Volume liquor sales, draught beers, highly trained efficient service staff and a consistently high quality customer experience can be challenging to deliver in the face of a fluctuating diary and a shifting emphasis week on week from entertainments to conferencing markets. Opportunities exist to develop a food offering for a variety of entertainment audiences in both venues and private and corporate dining has not been a feature of either venue to date. Expectations from national and international conference organisers include local sourcing of ingredients and a breadth of menu which caters for all budgets and all tastes but which gives a flavour of the region. Trends for cash catering are proving challenging to venues which need a catering offer to compete with the city centre chains and retain delegates within the venue across the lunch break. Results from a recent British Events Industry Market Survey show current industry expenditure norms at the following rates: Entertainment/sporting/exhibition spend per head 10 Banqueting/wedding spend per head 55 National conference delegate spend per head per day 18 11
Package 2 Visitor and tourist attractions Belfast Castle Belfast Castle is a ten minute car drive from Belfast City Centre and 15 minutes from George Best Belfast City Airport. It is one of Belfast s main visitor attractions with over 100,000 visitors per year. Set on the slopes of Cavehill Country Park, it is 400 feet above sea level with fantastic views of the city of Belfast. The Castle attracts both tourists from cruise liners and local people, many of whom use the country park. Function rooms layout and capacity There are a number of rooms available for hire (detailed below) and two small service bars located at the foot of the main staircase and on the first floor landing. These bars are used for servicing wedding and events. Opening hours The current opening hours are detailed below: Reception Monday: 9am - 6pm Tuesday to Saturday: 9am - 10.30pm Sunday: 9am - 6pm Cellar Restaurant Castle Tavern Monday: 10am - 5pm Tuesday to Saturday: 10am - 9pm Sunday: 10am - 5pm Cellar Restaurant Restaurant Monday: 12 noon - 5pm Tuesday to Saturday: 12 noon - 9pm Sunday: 12 noon - 5pm Drinks receptions can also be held, weather permitting, in the Castle gardens. Layout and capacity Theatre Cabaret Boardroom Dinner Drinks Room (based on six people per table) reception Chichester 200 84 40 160 190 Donegall 80 30 30 50 75 Deerpark 50 24 24 40 40 Ben Madigan 60 24 23 60 70 Fisherwick 30 18 16 30 45 Ashley 55 24 25 40 55 12
Usage 2014/15 The venue is licensed for weddings and ceremonies and, as the table below illustrates, is popular as a wedding, celebratory and meeting venue. Venue Weddings service only with catering Belfast Castle 84 (23) (61) Celebratory 57 Business meeting 134 Luncheon 23 Christmas lunch 2 Christmas dinner 7 Funeral 21 Castle Tavern and Restaurant The Castle Tavern and Restaurant are located in the basement of the Castle. The Tavern comfortably seats over 40 covers and is open through the day for refreshments and light lunches. The Restaurant opens from noon daily and seats a similar amount. In addition, a smaller private room can be used for private dining or as an extension to the main seating area. Both areas can be hired out exclusively from 5pm. Production area(s) The Castle has separate food preparation and production areas. One is used for servicing the Tavern and Restaurant, the other for functions. Both are fully equipped and have the capability of meeting and servicing the current customer requirements. Comment It is feasible to split the catering operations at Belfast Castle one operator for the Tavern and Restaurant and another for wedding/event provision. Whilst income is evenly split at around 440,000 per year each it is considered that the wedding/ event business has headroom and potential to develop further. Dependent on the eventual decision it may be feasible to close the restaurant at times i.e. during weekday evenings in winter and operate only on a Friday/Saturday. 13
Malone House Located in the south of Belfast, Malone House is an 1820s mansion with a landscaped sculpturefilled garden. It is a major venue for weddings, conferences, social functions and other events, and the surrounding grounds are popular with local walkers and cyclists. There is ample free car parking space. Opening hours The current opening hours are detailed below: Reception Monday to Saturday: 9am - 6pm Sunday: 12 noon - 4.30pm Barnett Restaurant Monday to Saturday: 12 noon - 3.30pm Sunday: 12 noon - 3.30pm Malone Room Monday to Saturday: 9.30am - 4.30pm Sunday: 11am - 4.30pm Higgin Gallery Monday to Saturday: 9am - 5pm Sunday: 12 noon - 4.30pm Function rooms layout and capacity Malone House has a number of rooms which are available for hire (detailed below). Private function rooms Available to hire from 7.30am - 1am booked in advance Layout and capacity Room Theatre U Shape Banquet Location Dimensions Haberton 120 40 120 Ground Floor 16.1 m x 6.1m Hilsborowe 80 24 80 First Floor 10.67m x 6.1m William Legge 65 24 50 Ground Floor 9.45m x 6.4m Montgomery 60 24 50 First Floor 9.3m x 6.1m Bridal 1 10-10 First Floor 5.5m x 4.4m Bridal 2 8 - - First Floor 3.56m x 4.4m 14
Usage 2014/15 The venue is licensed for weddings and ceremonies and is a popular venue. Venue Malone House Weddings 47 Celebratory 34 Business meeting includes hourly, half and full day 322 Luncheon 16 Christmas lunch/dinner 3 Funeral 23 Barnett Restaurant and Malone Room Within Malone House there are two dining areas open to the public. Both are located on the ground floor of the building and are open daily. The Malone Room offers snacks, refreshments, light lunches and afternoon teas which is very popular with the local community. Barnett Restaurant offers a more substantial food offering which has recently been revamped and offers a more accessible bistro/brasserie style menu and can be hired privately. Production area All of the facilities catering needs are supplied through one production kitchen which is located to the rear of the Barnett Restaurant. Comment Normal operating hours for public use are from 9.30am until 4.30pm, with catered events in the evening. It may be feasible for the restaurant to open as an evening destination (dependent on the eventual operating model) or to extend the opening hours. 15
The Stables Coffee Shop Located in south Belfast within the grounds of the 128 acre Lady Dixon Park, the Stables Coffee Shop is within a recently renovated building. It provides all day refreshments, hot and cold food seven days a week. The café is a popular destination for park users, families and walking groups and is available for private hire. The annual Rose Week event held at the International Rose Garden at Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park in July attracts over 60,000 visitors each year. Opening hours The café currently opens from 10am to 4pm. Capacity Inside there is seating for around 50+ covers and in warmer months additional seating is available on the patio. Production area and servery The café has a well-equipped modern kitchen, having only recently been refurbished. The counter and servery area has a 4.5m counter, complemented by refrigerated multi decks. Comments Whilst the café counter is relatively new, there are opportunities to enhance the operations to make them more suitable for the overall environment. The opening hours are subject to review. 16
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Belfast Zoo Located in north Belfast, Belfast Zoo is one of the top fee-paying visitor attractions in Northern Ireland, with more than 240,000 visitors in 2014/15. It is the only zoo in Northern Ireland and its 55 acre site is home to more than 1,200 animals and 140 species. We are currently working to enhance the overall zoo experience for visitors, linking to special events and activities. We would want any new operator to work with us to develop the overall offering for families and packages available. There are also opportunities for mobile catering throughout the site. Opening hours The zoo operates seasonal opening hours: Summer (1 April to 30 September):10am - 7pm Winter (1 October to 31 March): 10am - 4pm Catering outlets The zoo has two permanent catering operations: Lion s Den Restaurant Treetops Tea Room Percy s Pitstop Lion s Den Restaurant Set in the heart of the zoo, the restaurant offers seating for over 100 covers and has a self- service café counter. It offers a full range of hot and cold food and drinks. Parts of the seating area are bookable for children s parties. Treetops Tea Room Situated at the top of Cave Hill, the Tea Room has inside and outside seating for over 80+ covers and has a self-service café counter. It offers a range of light snacks, cakes, hot and cold drinks. The tea room has recently been totally refurbished due to a fire. In addition, the contract permits other catering units such as satellite/roaming units to maximise income during peak times. Percy s Pitstop This is currently being used to sell ice cream and confectionary, however we are reviewing the need for it due to its location by the entrance and Lion s Den Restaurant, we would however be keen to hear of your ideas for this area. Comments Secondary spend (not café customer) per visitor is 1.05 per head and is relatively low compared to other similar venues. The current arrangement is that utility charges and refuse are included within the concession fee which is reflected in the concession fee paid. Venue turnover 2014/15 Venue Retail Function food Function bar Total Belfast Castle 420,000 293,000 135,000 848,000 Malone House 221,000 193,000 82,000 496,000 Belfast Zoo 285,000 NA NA 285,000 The Stables Coffee Shop 120,000 NA NA 120,000 Combined total 1,046,000 486,000 217,000 1,749,000 Note: This data has been provided by Belfast City Council from data provided by third parties and whilst assumed accurate the various income components may not be. 18
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4. The process and response requirements At this stage we do not want to be prescriptive about the delivery model and are seeking your views on the provision of a quality catering and hospitality offer which will ultimately enhance the experience of local people, customers, visitors and tourists. We have provided a questionnaire which sets out the questions we hope to address, but we are seeking innovation and do not wish to constrain your thoughts. We very much welcome your views and lessons learned from your experience elsewhere. Your responses to the questionnaire will not be evaluated or scored, as this exercise is not part of a formal procurement process. However, your responses will be used (along with information from subsequent discussions) to inform a report for council officers and members in October 2015. We do not have a firm and absolute closing date for responses as this market engagement exercise is not part of a formal procurement process. However, it would be helpful for any responses to be returned by 5pm, Monday 5 October 2015 so that views expressed can help to shape the next steps to be taken by the Council. We are looking to develop the right conditions in the market for a tender process which is open, transparent and capable of securing the best possible outcome. Please confirm whether or not you would be willing to meet with our team, or participate in a telephone conversation, to discuss your responses and further help us shape our approach in advance of formally engaging with the market. We envisage hosting either a Market Consultation Event or scheduling individual meetings/calls on the 7 and 8 October 2015. Please note: Answers to questions are not word-limited; please extend the questionnaire as required. 20
F C B A E D KEY A Belfast Waterfront Conference and Exhibition Centre B Ulster Hall C Belfast Castle D Malone House E The Stables Coffee Shop F Belfast Zoo 21
It is requested that response forms are returned no later than 5pm, Monday 5 October 2015. market.engagement@v4services.com Any questions should be emailed in the first instance to the address above.