Q&A with Blythe
- Co Founder and Operations Director
Catering in historic Scottish venues: What it takes
What makes catering in historic venues different from other events?
Catering in historic venues requires a respect for your surroundings. These venues are precious, and require gentle handling. An awareness of good conservation practice is also very useful, and just a genuine love for the history of these unique spaces we get to work in.
What are some of the biggest challenges when working in these spaces?
Space is always at a premium, as they weren’t designed for modern events. You are also often dealing with multiple stairs and low doorways etc. Being able to be creative about your working spaces and how you utilise them, as well as designing your menu to suit the facilities available to you is always of benefit.
What details do you have to think about that guests might not realise?
We are always considering how we protect the fabric of the buildings and their contents. Whether that is having specialised heat protection mats made for antique dining room tables, finding replacements for real candles or adjusting menus so they have no ingredients that can stain a precious marble floor, everything we do in these venues need to be thought through carefully to ensure the space itself is respected and protected.
How do you adapt your service to suit the venue without affecting the experience?
Menu design is key in these beautiful old buildings. Ingredients like beetroot for instance strike terror into a conservators heart as it can cause terrible staining. We also do things such as use only tray service for drinks to avoid any staining on antique furniture, substitute LED candles to reduce fire risk and sometimes even lay protective matting on the floors. We also often have more staff required when working in these
historic venues, as the access can be difficult and the route from the kitchen to the dining spaces can on occasion be very far away.
What advice would you give to someone planning a wedding or event in a historic venue?
Lean into the feeling of the building. Each of these venues have their own story to tell, and often you can weave that into your event and menu design to pull off a beautiful event while really feeling the history and stories you are surrounded with.