Catering Provision at Highcliffe Castle - Highcliffe Castle Tea Rooms - Early Market Engagement for an Operator

Tender description

<p>Highcliffe Castle is owned and operated by BCP Council. The Castle is a Grade I listed building with publicly accessible grounds, beach and pay and display car park. Highcliffe Castle has a tea rooms which has been operating on the site since the mid-1990's. The tea rooms over the years have been operated by third parties as a concession arrangement.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>In April 2022, the third-party operator (concessionaire) of the Highcliffe Castle Tea Rooms activated the break clause of their agreement with BCP Council. Following this decision by the third-party operator, BCP Council transitioned the catering service into an internally managed operation. This has given BCP the opportunity to engage with our stakeholders, the local community and Castle visitors to assess and understand the needs and demands of the future service provision within the Highcliffe Castle Tea Rooms.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>In November 2022 the Council was no longer able to continue to operate the Highcliffe Castle Tea Rooms. Since February 2023, a temporary catering provision has been put on the site and is operated by a third party. This is an interim arrangement until an appropriate solution can be determined for the operation of Highcliffe Castle Tea Rooms moving forward.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Council is undertaking pre-market engagement to invite the views of the market on the delivery of Highcliffe Castle Tea Rooms moving forward.</p> <p><br>Please find attached the document: 'Early Market Engagement Questionnaire - Catering Provision at Highcliffe Castle' <span dir="ltr">This details the Council's intentions as well a questionnaire, which interested parties are invited to complete. Questionnaire responses should be submitted no later than midday on Friday 10th March 2023 to procurement@bcpcouncil.gov.uk.</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span dir="ltr">The Council are inviting potential interested parties to respond to a questionnaire that is attached to this advert. The purpose of the questionnaire is for BCP to gain insight into how the market considers a successful concession catering operation could be delivered on the site. This information will be used and reflected on by the Council to shape the specification, requirements, and procurement documentation for a potential future operation.&nbsp;</span></p> Keywords: Highcliffe Castle, Cafe, Tea Rooms, Catering