New catering set-up for country park and golf club near Twyford
A new catering contractor is on the menu for Dinton Pastures Country Park and Hurst Golf course, near Twyford promising to offer a range of tasty food. And this will take place in a completely refurbished environment, including upgraded kitchen, serving bar, flooring and redecoration.
Specialist catering contractor Edwards & Ward has made such a success of the borough’s school meal contract and a restaurant for staff at the council’s Shute End offices, that it has been asked to provide the catering at the country park and golf course under a temporary contract and existing partnership arrangements.
Earlier this year, the council announced proposals to combine the catering facilities at the Twyford country park and golf club, improve the inside of the country park café as well as extensive improvements to the outside, with covered patios. The lease of both the Tea Cosy Café and Hurst Golf Course are coming to an end and the proposals were the first step of a longer-term aspiration to improve all of the facilities at the country park.
Having taken on board comments from both Twyford country park visitors and golfers, the council is now proposing to continue for the present to provide catering in the two separate venues (café and golf course clubhouse).
And the contractors have indicated that there will be jobs for those existing catering staff that would like to transfer to the specialist contractors.
Executive member for corporate services Cllr Rob Stanton said: “I appreciate that this change could be unsettling for employees at both venues, but I hope that they will consider moving across to our partners Edwards & Ward.
“In taking on the school meals contract they have delivered healthy and tasty meals, improved take-up and successfully managed the transfer of staff from previous contractors. And the feedback we have had from this is that staff enjoy coming to work.
“I hope that this success will be emulated at Dinton Pastures and the golf course and that staff and visitors will all benefit.”
Negotiations will continue to allow staff who wish to transfer to the new contractor under Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) regulations to do so.
The refurbishment (including a new hot water heating system for the whole building) will take place between March 26 and March 30 when the café will be closed, allowing the newly refurbished café to open in time for the Easter holidays. During the refurbishments, refreshments will be available from the golf clubhouse and the toilets will remain open.
Prices for food at the café is expected to be at a similar level to current prices, although those at the golf course clubhouse may change as they are brought in line with café prices.
Specialist catering contractor Edwards & Ward has made such a success of the borough’s school meal contract and a restaurant for staff at the council’s Shute End offices, that it has been asked to provide the catering at the country park and golf course under a temporary contract and existing partnership arrangements.
Earlier this year, the council announced proposals to combine the catering facilities at the Twyford country park and golf club, improve the inside of the country park café as well as extensive improvements to the outside, with covered patios. The lease of both the Tea Cosy Café and Hurst Golf Course are coming to an end and the proposals were the first step of a longer-term aspiration to improve all of the facilities at the country park.
Having taken on board comments from both Twyford country park visitors and golfers, the council is now proposing to continue for the present to provide catering in the two separate venues (café and golf course clubhouse).
And the contractors have indicated that there will be jobs for those existing catering staff that would like to transfer to the specialist contractors.
Executive member for corporate services Cllr Rob Stanton said: “I appreciate that this change could be unsettling for employees at both venues, but I hope that they will consider moving across to our partners Edwards & Ward.
“In taking on the school meals contract they have delivered healthy and tasty meals, improved take-up and successfully managed the transfer of staff from previous contractors. And the feedback we have had from this is that staff enjoy coming to work.
“I hope that this success will be emulated at Dinton Pastures and the golf course and that staff and visitors will all benefit.”
Negotiations will continue to allow staff who wish to transfer to the new contractor under Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) regulations to do so.
The refurbishment (including a new hot water heating system for the whole building) will take place between March 26 and March 30 when the café will be closed, allowing the newly refurbished café to open in time for the Easter holidays. During the refurbishments, refreshments will be available from the golf clubhouse and the toilets will remain open.
Prices for food at the café is expected to be at a similar level to current prices, although those at the golf course clubhouse may change as they are brought in line with café prices.
Wokingham Borough Council ~ nr Twyford
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