RA secures catering deal at new office & leisure space in Milton Keynes


Restaurant Associates has won the contract to cater for all food and beverage outlets at Unity Place, due to open in the heart of Milton Keynes in late spring.

Unity Place will be the new headquarters for Santander UK, as well as a future-forward visitor attraction, workplace, and leisure destination.

Restaurant Associates will be overseeing a variety of bespoke dining offers including a premium restaurant, social enterprise café, a sky lounge, bakery, food hall and the management of several state-of-the-art conference and event spaces.

The catering firm will soon be making further announcements about parties involved in the opening, including some well-known names in the industry as well as providing a supportive platform for local communities to thrive.

The opening will create over 90 jobs in food and beverage, and the building will see the bringing together of Santander’s head office plus ‘co-working facilities, creating a dynamic working environment whilst building on the local area’s range of public amenities.

Alongside Restaurant Associate’s vendors and offerings, Unity Place’s communal facilities will include retail outlets, health facilities, a community hall, and an auditorium for up to 300 guests - all underpinned by a sustainable approach and focus on social mobility. There will also be a fabulous dining facility complete with a sun terrace on level 7.

The company continues to evolve its offering and Unity Place will serve as a pioneering example of this. From a technology perspective, Unity Place will house several unique innovations including a frictionless retail concept, digital restaurant, and the Unity Place app - all with the aim of providing a seamless and sleek customer experience.

Matt Thomas, Managing Director, said of the partnership, ‘Aligned in ethos, we are delighted to be collaborating with Santander UK to develop this unique and dynamic venue which has community and innovation at the heart.

'All of us involved are looking forward to bringing a modern and sustainable offering to locals and visitors alike in this future-forward destination.’