Independently-owned boutique caterer, Seasoned has opened the doors to Cloisters Kitchen & Garden within Chichester Cathedral after a two year closure of the site.
Following its contract win late last year and subsequent £150k investment and refurbishment of a new kitchen for the site and a restructure and restyle of the cafe space, the opening sees the start of a seven-year contract.
The cafe which was previously an in-house operation is a popular social hub for the local community and one of the deciding factors in choosing Seasoned as the new catering partner was their ongoing commitment to using local suppliers.
This was combined with their flexible procurement path, something that is unique to the smaller independent caterers in today’s marketplace and its imaginative and diverse approach to the opportunity and proven track record in marketing and growing cafe sales.
In line with its commitment of choosing suppliers within a 30-mile radius of any contract, Graham Turner, Managing Partner - Venues, said, ”The critical choice within any retail outlet has to be a great locally roasted coffee. We are partnering with Edgcumbes coffee roasters and tea merchants based in Arundel who have created a unique blend especially for Cloisters Kitchen & Garden.
'This is the starting point which all else is based. Our talented team led by Lorraine Sneller are cooking delicious fresh food on site daily including the fabulous cakes, pastry and desserts from our chef Georgina Bouchala.”
The Seasoned team is also delighted that the location of this site allows them to extend their relationship with charity, Fare Share Sussex who welcome left over food and redistribute to those in need in the area. They have also supported two other local charities, Stonepillow and St Wilfred’s Hospice by buying furniture from them and ‘upcycling’ for the cafe space.
Acting Dean of Chichester, The Right Reverend Graeme Knowles, said, “With Seasoned on board we are confident that the Cloisters Kitchen & Garden will be a fantastic dining destination, providing a warm welcome for the Chichester community and visitors to our great city.”
