Find the Perfect Venue

Two of the biggest brands in the meetings and events market have signed a landmark agreement that will see Sodexo Live! become the businesses first-ever Official Culinary Partner.

Sodexo Live! are one of the global leaders in hospitality services in the events, sports and leisure industry and the five-year contract will see the company deliver an enhanced premium hospitality and event experience at Destination Emirates Old Trafford, home of Lancashire Cricket, across both match day and non-match day events.

As part of the partnership, Sodexo Live! plans to build a strong casual workforce of approximately 150 from the Greater Manchester and North West area, contributing to the local economy and community. The food will be overseen by Sodexo Live! executive head chef Andy Hare - as well as Emirates Old Trafford head chef, Nic Ashurst, who has worked at the venue for 37 years – and will work collaboratively to develop the club’s culinary offering.

Working together, Sodexo Live! and Emirates Old Trafford – which has undergone a £75 million redevelopment over the last 15 years - will introduce exciting and diverse menus designed to elevate the dining experience, across both hospitality and conference and events held at the venue. The teams will work together for the first time at this weekend’s sold out IT20 fixture at Emirates Old Trafford between England and Australia.

Daniel Gidney, Chief Executive at Lancashire Cricket said: “I would like to welcome Sodexo Live! to our family of partners as The Official Culinary Partner of Lancashire Cricket and Emirates Old Trafford.

“Sodexo Live! is a worldwide hospitality brand, with a proven track record of enhancing the culinary experiences across sports venues, conference centres and global events.

“Over the past 12 years we have quadrupled in size and our scale now requires an enhanced platform to really focus on the next stage of our growth. We know there is an increasing demand for varied, creative and distinctive menus that are tailor-made for different audiences across a range of events that we hold at Destination Emirates Old Trafford. We believe Sodexo Live! has the expertise and vision to make a real difference to our food offering and enhance the whole event experience across cricket, conferences and concerts at the venue.

“This is a partnership that is incredibly exciting and we’re really looking forward to working with the team in the coming years to support us achieve our ambitious growth aspirations.”

Claire Morris, CEO Sodexo Live! UK&I, commented: "We are absolutely delighted to partner with Lancashire Cricket and Emirates Old Trafford. This collaboration represents a fantastic opportunity to bring our food expertise in event catering and hospitality to one of the most iconic global venues located in the North West of England.

“Furthermore, we feel incredibly proud to be selected as the Club’s first ever Official Culinary Partner in its 160-year history. We thank Lancashire Cricket for putting its trust in us as our Experience Makers plan to deliver a standout service.

“We are committed to creating an exceptional stadium experience for fans and visitors, ensuring that every match day and event is memorable for visitors regionally and from across the world. Our team is eager to begin this exciting journey and contribute to the continued success of Lancashire Cricket and Emirates Old Trafford."

New items on the menu will have a regional flare including ingredients from local suppliers across Greater Manchester, Lancashire and the North West. Example new hospitality dishes include:

Tandoori Spiced Cornfed Chicken
Bombay Spiced Fondant Potato, Glazed Garden Vegetables, Maharashtrian Butter Masala Sauce and coriander oil

Crispy hake ‘Kyiv’
Panko breaded line-caught fillet of hake, filled with wild garlic, caper and shallot butter, finished with sauteed Ormskirk ruby potatoes and watercress salad

Baked Keralan Aubergine
Tikka Spiced Vegetables, Paneer, Bombay Spiced Fondant Potato, Maharashtrian Butter Masala Sauce

Glazed Cardamom & Saffron Custard Tart
Nutmeg Chantilly, yoghurt sorbet, crushed pistachio

Social impact sits at the heart of Sodexo Live! and through its food offering it will make a difference by working with social enterprises such as Change Please and Half the Story Biscuits. Change Please is a well-established coffee brand that works with the homeless to give them employment and training opportunities to build a better life. Half the Story Biscuits is similar, where it creates job roles within its bakery for those who have also experienced homelessness.

Globally Sodexo Live! supports some of the most well-known and high-profile sports clubs, events, and stadia. In the UK it partners with Fulham FC, Brighton & Hove Albion FC, Newcastle FC, Nottingham Forest FC, and the home of Scottish football, Hampden Park as well as the prestigious Ascot Racecourse, to name a few. Internationally it delivers events such as The French Open at Roland Garros, the Tour de France, the Miami Open and F1 in Miami, Indian Wells Open in California, plus stadiums in the USA including the Hard Rock Stadium (home to the Miami Dolphins) and the Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, home to Super Bowl LIX in 2025.

IET Birmingham: Austin Court will host the highly anticipated CHS Birmingham Welcome Reception. The partnership will form a crucial part of the hosted buyer and exhibitor experience for the show, allowing for informal but business focused networking ahead of the main event the following day.

The Welcome Reception has become a mainstay of CHS Birmingham, and takes place the evening before the event from 6.30-8.30pm. The partnership with IET Birmingham: Austin Court once again offers hosted buyers and exhibitors a central location to convene, with the venue providing light bites and drinks with networking and entertainment throughout the evening.

“We’re really thrilled to be working with IET Birmingham, they have been a brilliant supporter of ours for some time. We’re so pleased to have the opportunity to bring our hosted buyers and exhibitors together the night before CHS Birmingham,” commented Michelle Rennoldson, Event Director, CHS Birmingham. “This is such an important part of the show experience; it means they can immediately start building relationships and network in a more informal way.”

“We are thrilled to host the CHS Welcome Reception at IET Birmingham: Austin Court,” commented Angena Devi, Sales Office Manager, “It’s an honour to welcome such a dynamic and passionate community to our historic venue, just around the corner from the ICC Birmingham! We look forward to partnering with CHS Birmingham and creating an unforgettable evening of networking and celebration.”

“The networking provided by the Welcome Reception forms a key part of building up energy and expectations ahead of the main event the following day. The whole of the CHS Birmingham community feels like it is gearing up for what should be our most productive event yet” concludes Michelle.

For more information on IET Birmingham : Austin Court visit https://austincourt.theiet.org/.

The Marine Conservation Society’s annual Great British Beach Clean is returning to Paignton on September 24, 2024! Businesses and individuals alike are invited to participate in this impactful event and contribute to a cleaner, healthier Torbay.

By joining the beach clean, businesses can demonstrate their commitment to environmental sustainability and connect with like-minded organizations in the local community. It's a fantastic opportunity to network, have fun, and make a positive difference.

Event Details:

Date: September 24, 2024

Time: Meet at 4:30 PM for a briefing, and be back at the same point by 5:30 PM.

Location: Meeting point is at the bottom of the slipway adjacent to Villa Marina, at the end of Eastern Esplanade, Paignton. Please note public parking is chargeable. No parking at Redcliffe Hotel.

Activities: Participate in a beach clean, network with other businesses, and enjoy post-event refreshments at the Redcliffe Hotel.

What to Bring:

Picking stick (if you have one)

Strong pair of gloves (like gardening or work gloves)

Sturdy shoes

Appropriate clothing for the weather

Pen and something to lean on for the survey

Important Notes:

Volunteers under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Dogs are not allowed on this beach.

Host: Redcliffe Hotel, Paignton (Jackie Kelly) Organizer: Marion Parris King (Peak 2 Coast Celebrant) - 07860 952978 (text only)