An award-winning restaurant is ready to take its culinary delights on the road with a van-tastic new catering arm.
1884 Wine and Tapas Bar, winner of a string of regional and national fine-dining awards, has also expanded its operation by launching a breakfast service which has already proved a hit with businesses.
The restaurant brought a splash of the Mediterranean to the banks of the Humber when it opened at the corner of Hull Marina three years ago. Last year it turned to pedal power by unveiling the Amor 1884 fridge on a bike to serve ice cream, prosecco and other chilled delights at festivals and other open-air events around the city.
Now the team have added a van, gazebos and mobile kitchen as they target the increasingly popular Hull Street Food Nights, the Yum! Festival of Food and Drink in August and a programme of corporate and social events.
Bookings are already coming in after the mobile unit was announced at the launch of a second initiative – a breakfast service which will see 1884 Wine and Tapas Bar open from 9am until 11am every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with private bookings and off-site catering available all week.
Guests from a wide range of Hull businesses including solicitors, accountants, major banks, the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, HullBID and the Bondholders attended a launch which featured presentations about the parallels between business and sport by Tim Sheens, Head Coach of Hull Kingston Rovers, and Marc Hackney, a director of the club.
A subsequent tricycle trip to Rovers’ Ladbrokes Challenge Cup tie against Wigan Warriors was another success as Amor 1884 sold out of ice cream.
The restaurant is now in discussions about holding breakfast networking events with key figures from Hull FC, and with HullBID.
Deborah Spicer, Director of 1884 Wine and Tapas Bar, said the investment in the mobile service was inspired by demand from diners for something different in the corporate sector, and by the explosion of interest in street food.
She said:
Many of the diners who visit the restaurant organise their own special events at home or at work and had been asking if we could provide a catering service. We have done a few events in the past and we can now do so much more, from travelling to source the best ingredients to delivering the finest food to prepare and cook fresh at a company event, private party or any celebration.
It was a similar story with the breakfast service. Just as we gave a new twist to tapas when we opened in 2015 we also cooked up some new breakfast ideas, with high-quality food and service in stylish surroundings. The response so far indicates that the demand is there.
We’re targeting outdoor public events including food festivals, sport and cultural events as well as private parties and business events. The message is that we’re open for breakfast, lunch and dinner at our place or yours, and we can create a menu that is perfect for your guests and for any occasion!