Set in elegant 18th century almshouses, Grade I listed, with a contemporary wing surrounded by attractive award winning gardens, the Museum of the Home (formerly the Geffrye Museum) depicts the quintessential style of English living rooms displayed as period rooms from 1600 to the present day.

In May 2015 the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) awarded a development grant of £11m to help the Geffrye Museum progress its plans for an exciting development under its new title of Museum of the Home. The total project cost is estimated to be £18m. The Museum of the Home’s development includes a redeveloped building which will accommodate a new visitor restaurant, as well as a conference and events facility.

We commenced work with the project team in 2011 to develop the catering strategy and business plan, along with providing specialist advice in relation to the conference facility.

We also undertook an operational and financial review of the existing café to determine how, in the short to mid term, it could optimise its potential as well as the customer experience. Our recommendations included changing the management model from an in-house operation to working with an innovative external partner. We then sourced an appropriate catering partner with the result being significantly enhanced customer service and a much improved financial position for the Museum of the Home

Our most recent work has included support with the tender process to appoint an innovative catering partner for the new redeveloped visitor catering post the capital development.

Advice & support has included:

Catering Strategy

• Development of Catering Strategy
• Client objectives & site dynamics determined
• Stakeholder interviews
• Local, national research & competition review
• Benchmarking – demand, financials, best practice & market trends
• Demand & financial models developed
• Optimum location for catering determined
• Concept development
• Management options

Development of Conference Location

• Optimum location for conference facility
• Catering support services required & servicing
• Conference market overview & competition
• Market opportunity & financial potential

Development of Existing Visitor Catering

• Operational review & recommendations
• Financial benchmarking & potential
• Management options
• Search & appointment of external catering partner

Soft Market Test & Tender for Catering Partner/ New Operation

• Soft market test to understand interest from suitable partners
• Full tender support to select & appoint commercial partner