Business

Mount Charles sister company is museums' new catering partner

Announcing the new museums' catering contract are (from left) Brona Moffett, head of experience and enterprise at National Museums NI; Sean McCann, chef and director at Craft Event Co; and Gavin Annon, sales and marketing director at Mount Charles. Picture: Matt Mackey/PressEye
Announcing the new museums' catering contract are (from left) Brona Moffett, head of experience and enterprise at National Museums NI; Sean McCann, chef and director at Craft Event Co; and Gavin Annon, sales and marketing director at Mount Charles. Picture: Matt Mackey/PressEye

A SISTER company of catering giant Mount Charles has been awarded a three-year contract as hospitality partner at three sites for National Museums NI.

Craft Event Co, which is experienced in both bespoke weddings and tailored events and café solutions, will provide the food and beverage offering at the Ulster Museum, Ulster Folk Museum and Ulster Transport Museum.

This will include Ulster Museum’s destination restaurant Wynne & Pym, the stylish Ballycultra Tearooms at Ulster Folk Museum and the Cultra Manor dedicated hospitality venue. Plans are also under way to further expand the catering offering at Ulster Transport Museum.

Brona Moffett, head of experience and enterprise at National Museums NI, said: “We look forward to working with Craft Event Co to continually enhance our hospitality offering. The creativity and expertise of its team will also allow us to transform weddings and corporate events in our stunning spaces.”

Jamie Henderson, who is director at Craft Event Co, added: “We're excited to be working to create a unique hospitality offering that will transform the way visitors enjoy food and drink at three of the province’s best-known museums.

“Food provenance will be at the centre of our service delivery, offering a taste of Northern Ireland to local visitors and also those who come from further afield. We will reflect the uniqueness and warmth of the Northern Irish welcome, ensuring that the food offering is a key part of the overall museum experience.

“The skillset of our team will transform National Museums NI’s events offering too by introducing a high-quality dining experience that will appeal to weddings and corporate events too. All of us at Craft Event Co. look forward to welcoming people to each of the museums over the coming weeks.”

Mount Charles Group, founded in 1988, already supports some of the most prestigious organisations in Northern Ireland with clients across healthcare, education and retail sectors.

Gavin Annon, marketing director at Mount Charles, said: “Our sister company Craft Event Co is the perfect fit for National Museums NI. It has built a strong reputation across Northern Ireland thanks to its commitment to customer service and hygiene standards, quality in food and creativity.

“It is a privilege to work with these unique National Museums NI destinations and we look forward to adding to the experience with our bespoke food offering.”