Could you provide a mobile catering unit at How Hill next year?

Expressions of interest are sought for an exciting opportunity to deliver a new mobile catering facility selling hot/cold drinks and food at Toad Hole Cottage, How Hill, Ludham, Norfolk. NR29 5PG.

The site is offered exclusively and rent-free on a profit share basis for the 2025 season covering the Spring Bank Holidays, weekends and school holiday periods.

How Hill is a very popular location for visitors and currently has no catering provision other than ice-cream sales from Toad Hole Cottage. It has a small museum and visitor centre, boat trips, free 24-hour moorings for around 30 hire and privately owned boats, walking routes, nature trail, popular family picnic field, gardens, car park and public toilets. The location is also home to an environmental study centre.

We are offering a pitch for a catering company to provide sales of hot and cold drinks (non-alcoholic), snacks, cakes and other food items from a mobile unit such as a trailer or converted horsebox. We envisage a suitable food offering would be cakes, traybakes, warmed pastries, paninis, etc (rather than deep-fried food such as chips or burgers).

The Authority would promote the catering offer through it’s communications channels and tasteful advertising A boards can be placed within the parking and staithe areas. The pitch itself is within the pretty garden surroundings of How Hill Cottage, next to the picnic field and riverside moorings. It will be possible to place outdoor seating in the garden and an outdoor 32 Amp electric socket is available to use. There is also a tap available for drinking water.

The operator of the mobile unit would be required to clear all rubbish generated at end of each day.

It will be important for the mobile catering operator to understand and work in conjunction with the Authority to provide a food and drink service that offers added value to the site, attracts new visitors and increases footfall.  The operator would need to be willing to share operating financial information.

Interested parties should fill out the expression of interest form (DOC) and email it to tenders@broads-authority.gov.uk by 5pm 30 October 2024.

To discuss this opportunity further, arrange an on-site meeting or a trial operating period before the deadline please email Rob.Leigh@broads-authority.gov.uk

The deadline for applications is 30 October 2024 however interested parties may request an on-site meeting before that date or operate ‘trial days’ this year to test the feasibility before committing further.