Catering and Events Concession at Southsea Castle, Portsmouth (5-10 Year Opportunity)

Portsmouth City Council is seeking an experienced catering and events operator to manage commercial food and beverage services and event operations at Southsea Castle, a historic 16th-century visitor attraction and museum. This long-term concession combines a minimum guaranteed annual rental fee of £32,000 with revenue sharing (3-10% of turnover). The operator will run a year-round restaurant/café (approximately 60 indoor and 54 outdoor covers) and manage private events including weddings and corporate functions in various castle spaces. Two contract options are available: Lot 1 offers a 5-year initial term with up to 5-year extension; Lot 2 offers a 7-year initial term with up to 3-year extension. The successful bidder will commence operations on 1st February 2027 and must meet defined performance standards across customer experience, event delivery, catering quality, commercial performance, compliance, and community engagement. The Council estimates annual turnover of approximately £600,000 with significant growth potential, making the concession worth an estimated £7-8 million over the potential 10-year term. The operator must balance commercial objectives with the site's status as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and maintain public access for at least 50 weeks annually.