Climate conscious catering partners

Climate conscious menus for Double Puc, Kate’s Kitchen, Picnic and Relish.

We The Curious reopened in July this year, following two years of closure due to a fire on the roof back in April 2022. We The Curious hosts hundreds of events a year in the unique venue, including in the second-floor event spaces, Planetarium, two floors of exhibition space, Millennium and Anchor Squares – hosting a variety of events including conferences, drinks receptions, weddings, festivals, talks and award ceremonies.

Guided by their commitments to create a sustainable future, and to be a welcoming, inclusive space - We The Curious took the decision to appoint four locally based event caterers to provide its reopening Venue Hire catering offer; Double Puc (who also run the cafe in the main venue), Kate’s Kitchen, Picnic and Relish.

As part of We The Curious’ pledge to environmental sustainability, and its aim to reduce carbon across all areas of their operation, all of the caterers offer a climate conscious menu.  

Different ingredients have different levels of carbon, and so some menu options contribute more to climate change than others. The carbon conscious menus are based upon data* for the carbon associated with various ingredients, and include:

• A higher proportion of plant-based options
• No beef or lamb on the menu  
• Cheese used in moderation (all must be from the UK, and where possible, organic or pasture-fed)
• Pork, chicken and fish used only occasionally

Wherever meat, fish or dairy is used, all adhere to high standards of animal welfare, by only using organic and free-range accreditations.

By using locally based catering partners that work with local suppliers, We The Curious aims to reduce the carbon footprint of its catering operations.

Through offering a choice of caterers, We The Curious gives clients the ability to tailor their catering requirements to their specific events and choices – working to a range of different budgets and styles of food.

Annette Hawker, Venue Hire Manager for We The Curious said:

“It’s been fantastic to be able to reopen with a new catering offer to bolster our Venue Hire event packages. Working with a mix of caterers who all really align with our values was important to us, as well as being able to support local independent businesses and suppliers. It’s been great to be able to offer clients a true range of choices to support their budgets, tastes and requirements – there is ‘no one size fits all’ when it comes to catering events.

All of our catering partners have been really brilliant to work with so far, and we’ve had excellent feedback from our clients about the choice, offer and experience – we’re looking forward to a busy festive season with them all.”


Closure and reopening
During its 2-year closure, We The Curious continued its work as an educational charity, and delivered over 300 free activities to 40,786 children, adults and young people and young people in schools and communities since.

All proceeds from Venue Hire events and space hires directly support their work as a charity, helping to create a future where everyone is included, curious and inspired to build a better world together.

For more information on Venue Hire at We The Curious, www.wethecurious.org/venue-hire/events

*Data sources for climate conscious catering:

https://ourworldindata.org/food-choice-vs-eating-local
https://oumnh.ox.ac.uk/learn-meat-the-future
 

-ENDS-

For more information, images, interviews or to arrange a press trip, please contact the Jen Forster, Communications Lead - jen.forster@wethecurious.org or 07967 334152.

You can also follow We The Curious on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and TikTok. 

Editor’s Notes:

About We The Curious:
We The Curious is an educational charity and South West England’s leading science centre. We produce experiences that bring people together to play, get creative with science and explore different ideas. We work with partners locally and nationally, supporting people to be inquisitive, develop new skills and improve their wellbeing.

Our vision asks ‘what if everyone is included, curious and inspired by science to build a better world together?’

About Double Puc:
Double Puc cafe make freshly prepared and seasonally inspired menu of sandwiches, salads and baked goods, together with our specialty coffee and famous double puc cookies. Whether eating in the cafe or hosting an event at We The Curious, we'll be sure to bring a smile and an MMMmmm to your and your friends faces. 

Double Puc Cafe & Events have created a vegetarian and plant-based menu to really drive down the footprint of their menus, whether eating at the cafe or hosting an event at WTC. If your company has a carbon reduction target or Net Zero ambition then you've come to the right place! We are on that journey with you. 

Double Puc Cafe & Events are currently working towards B Corp accreditation so if you are a B Corp already or wanting to work with like-minded organisations you'll be in good hands. 
https://www.doublepuc.com/

About Kate’s Kitchen:
Kate’s Kitchen provides delicious, thoughtful food, made and served with care.

They are a central Bristol event catering company, providing deliciously creative food using local and seasonal ingredients, whilst being environmentally conscious and collaborating with their community. Made and served by trained, passionate, loyal, and caring staff for Bristol based corporates, private events and wedding celebrations.

In July 2024 they won the UK’s only Food for Life Served Here Gold certified corporate menu. Kate Ploughman, founder of Kate’s Kitchen welcomed the gold standard accreditation as she steers the company to its next chapter. The company currently serves 190 meals on average per day, from Monday to Friday, while adhering to their ethos of using fresh, seasonal, local and organic produce in their meals.
https://www.kateskitchenbristol.co.uk/

About Picnic:
Picnic Catering was formed in 2017 by Simon Davis and Matthew Fratini after years in the catering industry. They have gone on to work with many of Bristol’s premier companies such as Hargreaves Lansdown, Clark Willmott, Vertical Aerospace as well as event organisers such as Christmas at the Spiegeltent, Shindig Feast, The Prospect Building and now We the Curious. 
www.picniccatering.co.uk

About Relish:
Discover a culinary experience where ingredient-led cookery meets sustainability at its core.

At Relish Catering, we’re dedicated to delivering exceptional flavours while minimising our environmental impact. We craft menus with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, supporting our community and reducing food miles. Our offerings range from vibrant canapés to exquisite main courses and indulgent desserts, all designed with sustainability in mind.

Experience the difference with Relish Catering – where sustainability meets sensational taste.
www.relish-group.co.uk