The Brunel Museum

The Brunel Museum, located in Rotherhithe, celebrates both engineering and performance in its Grade II* listed Tunnel Shaft. After 150 years the chamber is open every day for heritage talks and lectures. In addition, it hosts evening concerts, opera and theatre.

The Grand Entrance Hall, where young Brunel nearly drowned, was the world’s first underground theatre. Under the National Heritage Landmarks Partnership Scheme the museum has fitted out a spectacular new gallery and underground theatre.

Surrounding the Tunnel Shaft is the Tunnel Shaft Garden, a potager garden with raised beds planted with herbs and fruits. On summer evenings this is the Midnight Apothecary, where the Cocktail Gardener serves exquisite drinks.

The capital project, including a new build annex, will create a new holistic visitor experience for the Brunel Museum, incorporating a defined single entrance and paypoint, a clear paywall barrier, a defined visitor journey, an interpretation and exhibition strategy, and a home for the Thames Tunnel drawings and watercolours.

In addition to being a popular visitor attraction, the Brunel Museum is an important community asset as well as a regular stopping-off spot for Thames walking tours.

Montfort Catering Consultants have recently supported the Brunel Museum with an options appraisal and recommendations for a proposed café, part of the Brunel Museum Reinvented project. Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the project will make improvements to a site of international heritage significance with its strong association to Marc Brunel and his son Isambard Brunel.

Appointed at very short notice, our catering consultancy advice to the Museum has included reviewing the business case and wider proposals for the café, along with considering location options and available space in relation to potential demand, capital requirements and the broader proposals for the Museum.

We have also supported the Museum with the transformation of the riverside terrace into an outdoor café via the management, selection and appointment of a street food vendor, Coffee Box. Regular attendees to Dulwich Market will recognise the Coffee Box, which offers organic coffees and freshly squeezed juices. On Sundays Coffee Box will be joined by Dhaclhini, a bespoke cake and brownie maker.

Catering consultant support and advice includes:

• Café options appraisal
• Environmental analysis
• Market overview
• Location & space options in relation to demand & capital requirements
• Business plan appraisal & development
• Management & appointment of external street food/ café operator