Royal Ascot Menu To Include Social Impact And Sustainable Culinary Experiences, Says Sodexo Live!
The long‑standing partnership has seen Sodexo Live! provide catering and hospitality services at the racecourse since 1998 and, it takes utmost pride in creating exceptional experiences for racegoers all year round.
With a commitment to social impact and sustainability at its core, Sodexo Live! will build on its 25‑plus years’ experience of delivering the finest food and hospitality at this impressive event.
A team of more than 3,500 staff will be employed for the five‑day race meeting with many of its casual workforce returning year after year to work there or joining the company to continue their career.
Sodexo Live! is passionate about nurturing and developing talent and this year will build on its educational outreach with 40 student chefs from colleges, including Cambridge and Reading, joining its team, where they will gain valuable experience of working at a large‑scale major event.
Sustainable food plays a huge part in its operations across the world, and Royal Ascot is no different. For the third year Sodexo Live! will partner with Full Circle Farms. This unique regenerative farming initiative takes appropriate food waste from venues and events to create fertiliser to grow the next round of produce, without using any pesticide or herbicides. The resulting crops then go back to venues and are used across a range of dishes. Not only does this minimise food waste, but it also protects the environment, ensuring we can still grow and eat plants in 50 years’ time.
Neutro, a net zero dining concept, which launched in the Village Enclosure at Royal Ascot in 2022 will return this year with a twist. This year it will be back featuring a plant‑based grab and go loaded hash browns menu.
Furthermore, the Ledbury’s three Michelin starred chef Brett Graham has created a hot dog using meat from his sustainable pig farm in Shropshire.
The brigade of Royal Ascot ‘Chefs in Residence’ collectively boast 12 Michelin stars and includes newcomers Tom Shepherd, who will join the team in The Sandringham restaurant in the Royal Enclosure Gardens, and Lisa Goodwin‑Allen joins the award‑winning ON 5, located in the Queen Anne Enclosure.
Also in the Queen Anne Enclosure, there will be a new stylish restaurant, The Deck. Ascot regulars and TV chef James Tanner and his brother Chris have curated a specially designed three‑course menu to perfectly complement a summer day of sport and socialising. The Deck will offer diners a relaxed experience in an elegant, raised space evocative of an English country garden. An elevated private balcony will afford guests clear views of the Royal Procession and racing action on the track.
Claire Morris, CEO, Sodexo Live! UK & Ireland said: “It’s great to be back delivering our 26th Royal Ascot and with just two weeks to go until the main event it’s the perfect opportunity to share a glimpse of what we have in store for the more than 250,000 guests attending the 2024 Royal Meeting.
“Social impact and benefiting the communities we serve are at the heart of what we do, it is therefore incredibly pleasing to see the array of things we are doing in this space. For the next generation of talent that we bring into Royal Ascot, it is an excellent way to showcase the different jobs you can have in hospitality and what a highlight it is for them to be in such a world‑famous setting so early in their careers.
“Royal Ascot would not be Royal Ascot without a sumptuous food offering and this year is like no other. Through our culinary prowess and desire to create exceptional moments for all our guests, racegoers are in for a treat with the myriad of options available.”
Jonathan Parker, Managing Director of 1711 by Ascot, said: “At Royal Ascot, dining is an ever‑evolving masterpiece and this year we're not just aiming to surpass expectations. I believe Royal Ascot to be the single biggest collection of stars – both on and off the track – of any British sporting event and this year’s line‑up demonstrates the breadth of innovation and style found across the UK’s culinary scene.
“This year, we’re immensely proud of the continued work through the partnership we have with Sodexo Live! to make our food offering more sustainable than ever with plant‑based innovations and a network of British suppliers that champion best practice.”
