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Post by Jon on May 28, 2024 13:42:59 GMT
To go off on a different tangent, I think theatres who offer proper F&B like the National, Lyric Hammersmith etc could do more to encourage people to come and dine before the show, maybe a meal deal ticket for example
I wonder how much revenue the National's food offerings make?
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Post by n1david on May 28, 2024 14:01:33 GMT
I wonder how much revenue the National's food offerings make? I think the NT catering is all outsourced now. So I think a provider pays rent for the space and then gets to keep the profits (or otherwise). I'm obviously not party to the specific contracts but I think it was post-pandemic that they handed everything over to third-party providers. It's why you can't buy programmes from the bars any more, because the bars aren't run by the NT. Some cross-promotion might be productive but I'd have thought that was more likely when they were under NT management. |
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7,189 posts
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Post by Jon on May 28, 2024 14:44:47 GMT
I wonder how much revenue the National's food offerings make? I think the NT catering is all outsourced now. So I think a provider pays rent for the space and then gets to keep the profits (or otherwise). I'm obviously not party to the specific contracts but I think it was post-pandemic that they handed everything over to third-party providers. It's why you can't buy programmes from the bars any more, because the bars aren't run by the NT. Some cross-promotion might be productive but I'd have thought that was more likely when they were under NT management. Interesting, I wonder if things will taken back inhouse when Indhu Rubasingham takes over? |
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Post by kathryn on May 28, 2024 16:14:49 GMT
This thread is reminding me of the time I went to see Cursed Child with a banana in a banana case in my bag, to be consumed between parts as I was seeing both in one day.
The security person doing the bag check asked ‘what’s that??!’, pointing at my banana-shaped, banana-coloured, banana case.
‘A banana case’, I replied.
‘What’s in it?!’
‘A banana’
‘Oh!’
She let me in with it. 😁
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Post by TallPaul on May 28, 2024 17:41:14 GMT
I wonder how much revenue the National's food offerings make? I think the NT catering is all outsourced now. So I think a provider pays rent for the space and then gets to keep the profits (or otherwise). I'm obviously not party to the specific contracts but I think it was post-pandemic that they handed everything over to third-party providers. It's why you can't buy programmes from the bars any more, because the bars aren't run by the NT. Some cross-promotion might be productive but I'd have thought that was more likely when they were under NT management. I couldn't resist having a read of the latest annual report for Royal National Theatre Enterprises Ltd. Food and drink provision was outsourced from September 2021, first to Kerb Events Ltd, then to Compass from 1 April 2023. |
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Post by n1david on May 28, 2024 17:52:18 GMT
The two restaurants are offshoots of existing restaurants - Lasdun is run by the people who run The Marksman pub in Hackney. The more casual place, Forza Wine, still has its original branch in Peckham - they have just opened a new space for summer on the terrace below their restaurant in the NT. The street food around the Understudy and in Theatre Square (next to the BFI) are still run by Kerb who have street food markets in other parts of London such as Cowcross Yards and London Bridge City. Suspect the actual theatre bars are run directly by Compass, but the other sites are outsourced.
Lasdun is pricey but got very good reviews when it opened, a number of reviews saying it was worth a visit even if you weren't going to the theatre. I've been to Forza Wine a few times with mixed results, it's pretty good for a cocktail or glass of wine and a couple of small plates after a show but I've found the food quality mixed.
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Post by parsley1 on May 28, 2024 18:50:49 GMT
The two restaurants are offshoots of existing restaurants - Lasdun is run by the people who run The Marksman pub in Hackney. The more casual place, Forza Wine, still has its original branch in Peckham - they have just opened a new space for summer on the terrace below their restaurant in the NT. The street food around the Understudy and in Theatre Square (next to the BFI) are still run by Kerb who have street food markets in other parts of London such as Cowcross Yards and London Bridge City. Suspect the actual theatre bars are run directly by Compass, but the other sites are outsourced. Lasdun is pricey but got very good reviews when it opened, a number of reviews saying it was worth a visit even if you weren't going to the theatre. I've been to Forza Wine a few times with mixed results, it's pretty good for a cocktail or glass of wine and a couple of small plates after a show but I've found the food quality mixed. Lasdun is great |
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