Theatre Catering Consultancy – Catering Strategic, Operational & Contractual Advice

Montfort Catering Consultants continue to work with Chichester Festival Theatre supporting and informing the development of their Theatre catering and bars operation, aligning it to the Theatre’s audience development goals, artistic vision and sustainability ambitions.

Chichester Festival Theatre is one of the UK’s leading producing theatres, celebrated for its bold, innovative productions and wide ranging community and outreach work. The theatre site comprises the Festival Theatre, an iconic 1300 seat Grade II* listed building known for its distinctive thrust stage and large-scale productions, and the Minerva Theatre, an intimate 310 seat, flexible venue renowned for hosting high-quality productions, including world premieres and experimental works.

A new venue, The Nest has recently premiered, designed to complement its sister theatres with a thrust stage. This 120-seater studio is fully wheelchair accessible. This new venue supports artists and technicians at the beginning of their careers, including local writers and performers. It’s also perfect for staging entertainment for a younger audience, as well as a much needed space for the expanding community programme.

Together, these spaces form a dynamic cultural hub that attracts audiences from across the region and beyond.

Catering at Chichester Festival Theatre is intrinsically linked to the theatre experience. Hospitality also plays a crucial role as part of the commercial operation, directly contributing to the theatre’s financial success.

Chichester Festival Theatre’s Food and Beverage offer includes:

The Brasserie – a formal restaurant located in the Minerva building, with 180 covers, featuring local, seasonal ingredients.

Minerva Bar – a more informal setting, with small plates, pizza, pasta, salads and desserts before the show. Up to 60 covers for dining with more space for standing/ perching for drinks.

Café on the Park – located in the  Festival Theatre, serving Barista coffee, home-made-cakes, sandwiches, paninis and pizzas.

Foyer Café – located on the Festival Theatre foyer, the Foyer Café offers a full range of drinks pre performance and during intervals.

Festival Theatre Bar – located in the centre of the Festival Theatre foyer, The Festival Theatre Bar offers a full range of drinks.

We have provided strategic insight and actionable recommendations to shape the catering model to meet the needs of their diverse audiences, enhance their experiences, and drive financial growth and sustainability. For further details of our earlier theatre catering consultancy project with Chichester Festival Theatre follow this [link].

If you’re looking for a catering consultancy to support you in providing strategic insight and actionable recommendations to shape a catering model that meets the needs of your theatre’s audience, enhances their experiences, and drives financial growth and sustainability, do get in touch.

Posted on June 11th, 2026