Press release - as at 1 August 2005

 

G8 GALA DINNER AT CUTLERS' HALL    

 

Sodexho Prestige staff at Cutlers' Hall in Sheffield hosted the recently held G8 Justice & Home Affairs Gala Dinner for 220 guests including Justice & Interior Ministers from the G8 countries.

 

Following over twelve months of planning and a wave of heightened security, involving 120 protection officers and members of South Yorkshire Police, the G8 Justice & Home Affairs Gala Dinner ran without a hitch.

 

Sodexho Prestige Sales Manager, Lindsay Boldock said: "This event was certainly a challenge, particularly with the extra security we had to factor in, but we are used to entertaining high profile guests - even the Queen has visited Cutlers' Hall!"

 

Staff at Cutlers' Hall had to cope with the arrival of more than 50 extra guests only an hour before the event was due to start. There were no less than eight specific dietary requirements to cope with, due to differing taste buds from around the world, but the majority sat down to traditional British favourite - roast beef and Yorkshire pudding.  

 

Charles Clarke, Home Secretary, in a letter of thanks addressed to the 'Master Cutler', said: "I am writing to thank you and the staff at the Cutlers' Hall for making the G8 Gala Dinner such a success.  My ministerial colleagues were genuinely impressed by the Hall and thoroughly enjoyed the evening."

 

Sodexho Prestige also kept the 120 protection officers fed and watered throughout the event. Metropolitan Police Liaison Officer, David Clark said: "The food served to officers was both plentiful and delicious and the staff coped admirably with continuously changing feeding times and demands."

 

Regarded as one of the finest livery halls in the North of England, Cutler's Hall is an elegant grade ll listed building, dating from 1832, and its richly decorated rooms offer a unique atmosphere for any occasion.

 

Sodexho Prestige is the UK's largest event caterer and provider of corporate hospitality catering at unique conference venues across the country. The company provides catering at unique sporting and historic venues, such as Cutlers' Hall, as well as prestigious events such as the Grand National, the Chelsea Flower Show and Royal Ascot.  It also provides catering at permanent visitor attractions such as Blenheim Palace and at stadia such as Hampden Park. 

For further information please contact:
Sarah Murphy at Counsel PR on 020 7402 2272
Sarah.Murphy@counsel-huntsworth.com
Clare Collins at Sodexho on 020 7832 7805