FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY: Theatre Café Bar operation

Introduction

Expressions of interest are requested from suitably experienced and viable entities based on the Isles of Scilly to undertake the franchise for the operation and management of the new Cultural Centre and Museum café bar on the Isles of Scilly.

Working in partnership with Scilly Arts and Heritage the successful franchisee will oversee and deliver the daily operational management of the café-bar. The café-bar operator and centre Director will work together to ensure that the catering offer is welcoming, hospitable and aligned with the venue’s program of music, drama and cultural activities.

 The café-bar is expected to offer 40 to 60 covers over 60m square on each of two floors of the renovated Cultural Centre and Museum in the Town Hall on St Mary’s. The café-bar will include a fully specified catering kitchen and mobile bar to offer a daytime and evening service.

Our initial business case indicates that an annual contract fee of £35,000 would be appropriate. This will be reviewed on an annual basis.

Timeline

In order to ensure that the successful franchisee has an opportunity to contribute to the design process please respond to this request for Expressions of Interest by 5pm Monday 2 June 2025 by completing the attached form.

We would expect to short-list and invite tenders by mid-August 2025, with a view to receiving full tenders by Mid July and entering into contracts at the end of August 2025.

We are planning to open the venue in spring / summer 2026.

For further information and an application form please contact Lydia Bassett director@scillyartsheritage.org.uk