Low-carbon food options on updated catering menus

New menu options for catered meetings and events on Whiteknights and London Road campuses are now on offer from our Hospitality team – with an environmentally friendly flavour.

Among the updates is a new supplier for sandwiches, with the chosen supplier the first ‘food-to-go’ manufacturer in the world to be certified as carbon negative. For more information, keep an eye on Hospitality’s sustainability webpages.

An increased number of options for the delivered menu, cheaper plated dining service in Park House, and an increasingly ‘plant-forward’ approach to food are the other service updates.

Plant-forward means emphasising lower-carbon plant-based ingredients in dishes, but not being strictly limited to them. Meat may be included as an element of the meal, but will not be the main feature. Meat dishes will remain on the menu, but plant-forward options are discounted to encourage colleagues to choose them.

This plant-forward approach is being phased in during the next two years as part of our adoption of Menus of Change principles and will contribute to the University’s strategic objectives around environmental sustainability as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

How to book your catering

See the full range of catered menu options on the Hospitality internal customers webpages.

Delivered menu catering should be booked on the online booking portal.

All other menus can be booked by contacting the Venue Reading team.

Hospitality information sessions

Colleagues that book catering for meetings and events are invited to join regular Venue Reading drop-in sessions to meet the team (with tea and cake).

The first drop in sessions take place on Thursday 23 November, in the Meadow Suite, Park House. They will include an update on the new menus and how to organise your catering.

There are two sessions available to book:

• 10:00-11:00 (10:00-10:45 presentation and questions, followed by refreshments).
• 11:00-12:00 (Refreshments to start, followed by presentation and questions from 11:15).

To attend, please sign up by 10 November.

Christmas meal bookings

There are two options for a Christmas meal with your colleagues this year:

• An informal internal Christmas lunch at Eat at the Square on Whiteknights campus. This consists of a welcome drink, and self service lunch and desserts. See the Christmas Lunch at the Square menu. Tables for four or more are available on Friday 15 December, at a cost of £15 per person, payable in advance. Email Venue Reading by 21 November to book.
• A more formal meal at Greenlands. This is a party for up to 120 guests, or a meal and dancing for smaller groups on Friday 15 December. More information on packages and the menu on the Christmas Parties webpage.