Social Pantry partners with Mansion House and Old Bailey

Social Pantry, the UK’s independent and female-founded sustainable caterer, has announced its two venue partnerships with the City of London Corporation.

From 1 September 2024, Social Pantry has been appointed as the exclusive caterer for both Mansion House and The Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey), and will manage all aspects of the catering within the venues.

This includes internal cafés and eateries accessible only to members of the court, as well as the plethora of official state functions that are regularly held at these London landmarks.

Across both new venues, Social Pantry will be managing a total of 13 “unique” catering concepts, which founder Alex Head and the team will be leading.

According to Social Pantry, with the new City of London Corporation tender-wins as well as being appointed as the exclusive caterer for Tower Bridge earlier this year, the new partnerships continue to further cement its presence as “one of London’s go-to caterers”.

A grade I listed building, Mansion House, which features crystal chandeliers, intricately detailed domes and white and gold pillars, is an ideal venue for a range of events such as business meetings, civic and livery activity, conferences, receptions and dinners.

There are versatile event spaces available on both the first and second floors, with a number of rooms and layout options available for all occasions and celebrations of all sizes.

The largest, The Egyptian Hall which is based on designs by the classical Roman architect Vitruvius of Roman buildings in Egypt, can host dinners for up to 350 guests.

Meanwhile, The Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) has two main bookable event spaces with the Grand Hall, the larger of the two, suitable for a seated dinner of up to 240 guests or a standing reception for 350 guests, and the smaller Judges Dining Room which can accommodate a reception of up to 80 guests.

Head said: “We are so excited to be adding The Old Bailey and Mansion House, two more City of London Corporation venues to our exclusive catering partnerships alongside Tower Bridge which we launched in the Spring.

“The team at Social Pantry are really looking forward to putting these iconic venues on the map for events as well as running the in-house catering at The Old Bailey. As an independent caterer we’re extremely proud to win this contract with the City of London Corporation and to bring our sustainable, ethical approach to the catering at these venues.”

Henry Colthurst, chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Finance Committee, added: “We are pleased to be working with Social Pantry. Many organisations use our venues for evening and weekend events. Outstanding catering is a key attraction of those venues.

“The Square Mile enjoys a unique history and culture, encompassing some of the country’s most iconic buildings, including the Mansion House and the Central Criminal Court. From our markets and cultural icons, to our world-famous bridges and much enjoyed green spaces, we are proud to be stewards of unique national assets.”