Client Successes

Café Operations & Onsite Event Catering for BRE Science Park

BRE (Building Research Establishment) is the UK’s leading centre for building science and innovation. Owned by the BRE Trust, this former government research laboratory—now an independent organisation—operates from a large campus in Garston, Hertfordshire. The site includes a staff and tenant restaurant and requires regular catering for meetings, training days, and corporate events.

Building Research Establishment

The job

Since May 2021, we have operated the onsite restaurant at BRE, continually evolving the menu based on customer feedback and seasonal trends. Our team delivers daily specials, a balanced hot and cold offer, and high-quality coffee that meets the expectations of staff and tenants.

Alongside the restaurant, we work closely with BRE’s events team to provide tailored catering solutions that meet a range of budgets without compromising on quality.

Goals & Requirements

  • Reopen and revitalise the onsite restaurant post-Covid with an appealing food and drink offer.
  • Provide cost-effective catering for meetings, training sessions, and tenant events.
  • Manage kitchenette supplies across office buildings, ensuring a consistent stock of tea, coffee, milk, and sugar.

Our Solution

We established BRE as the operational base for both Hansons and Alida Events, including our sales office and production kitchen. This centralised setup allows our Head Chef to be onsite daily, ensuring the restaurant offer remains fresh, customer-led, and aligned with BRE’s expectations.

By running Hansons from the same location, we’re able to offer high-quality onsite catering at competitive prices. Savings on delivery and the use of reusable crockery support both budget requirements and BRE’s sustainability commitments by reducing waste and eliminating transport emissions.

Our team delivers a full range of event catering—from canapés and bowl food to hot buffets, including large-scale functions such as BRE’s annual staff awards. We also provide weekly kitchenette top-ups across office blocks, with café access for additional supplies as needed

Key Highlights

Fully managed onsite café serving fresh, high-quality hot and cold meals, drinks, and premium coffee.

Bespoke event catering designed to meet budget expectations without sacrificing quality.

Reliable kitchenette stock management, ensuring staff have the essentials they need during the working day.

Results

Our responsive approach—adapting menus based on ongoing feedback—has led to steady, sustained growth in café revenue since launch. Onsite catering orders continue to rise, supported by consistent positive feedback from staff, tenants, and event organisers.

What it Shows

This long-term partnership has created meaningful value for both organisations. BRE benefits from a high-quality, cost-efficient and sustainable catering solution, while our centralised base at the science park allows us to operate effectively, reduce overheads, and therefore meet the price points set by the client.