A total of three new catering units – all including bars – have been created as well as the refurbishment of six existing kiosks. Tony McDonough reports
ACC Liverpool has invested £600,000 on upgrading the food and drink offer at the M&S Bank Arena on Liverpool waterfront.
A total of three new catering units – all including bars – have been created as well as the refurbishment of six existing kiosks. A new menu has been unveiled as part of the investment.
Forthcoming shows at the arena include the Liverpool International Horse Show, Craig David music legends Diana Ross and Elton John and people attending will be offered a selection of food, including buttermilk chicken, classic pizzas and seafood.
A wider range of draught beer and cider is now available and meal deals will be on offer. ACC Liverpool says the new investment will improve speed of service.
Global services company Sodexo provides food and drink for the arena through Centerplate UK, a member of the Sodexo group, after Sodexo acquired its catering partner Centerplate in 2018.
Tom Beauchamp, Sodexo development chef UK & Ireland, said: Our versatile new food offering will include items such as chilli and lime chicken wings, sticky sriracha beef ribs and classic pizzas. Menus will be tailored to shows so for example for Mrs Brown’s Boys we offered Irish themed menus.
“We are passionate about providing great tasting food and are pleased to be able to offer a much wider menu for customers before they head into the arena to enjoy a performance.”
New food and drink concepts have been branded to reflect the arena’s waterfront location such as Clarence Fries, Albert Tavern, Gladstone BBQ and Victoria Grill – all named after surrounding docks.
The Ticket Quarter box office, which was located on the arena concourse, has moved to a new building on the piazza creating additional space for one of the new catering units.
M&S Bank Arena launched the new menu as Rod Stewart performed to a sell-out crowd this week. Commercial directorBen Williams added: “We want all our visitors to have a fantastic experience when they come to watch a show at the arena which should start as soon as they walk through the door. It’s important that guests can relax with a drink and a tasty bite to eat and make a night of it.
With sustainability in mind, the venue’s kitchens are equipped with in-kitchen food waste trackers to allow chefs to immediately see the financial and environmental impact of food waste.This technology means that up to 55 tonnes of waste are diverted from landfill every three years.
Plastic beer bottles have been replaced with draught served in biodegradable cups. Disposables and packaging across retail are made from either compostable or 100% recyclable materials.