Posh caters Bovingdons has taken over the catering contract for Nonsuch Mansion House. Bovingdons, which supplies food for top-class events at places like Hampton Court Palace, the Tower of London and the Royal Observatory plus a host of other venues, has been charged with bringing new life back into the mansion house.
Refurbishment is already under way at Nonsuch Park and the first major event is expected to be held in the autumn. The café will remain open during the summer while the work takes place.
Bovingdons, which caters for private parties, corporate events and weddings and other special events advertises its attention to detail and to styling as well as top-class food.
Nonsuch Park is managed jointly by Epsom and Ewell Borough Council and the London Borough of Sutton, who have taken control of the park from Surrey County Council under a long lease at the end of 2008. Following a tender process, they have now finalised terms with Bovingdons.
Councillor Graham Tope, chairman of the joint management committee said, “I am both happy and relieved that we are now starting to make better use of the Mansion House. I hope that this will provide more opportunities for residents of both boroughs to enjoy the house and its wonderful surroundings.
“Residents have let us know, in no uncertain terms, how much the park is valued by all who live in the area. "Both councils are aware that a lot of improvement is needed to the properties in the park. It is essential that we help fund that investment to enable the park to be maintained at a high standard.”
Clive Woodbridge, chairman of Epsom and Ewell Borough Council’s leisure committee, added: “The mansion house and its surrounds is crucial to our history and the beautiful parkland is part of the reason why this is such a great place to live. We must ensure it is well managed for the benefit of everyone.”
Andrew Gray, from Bovingdons, said “It will be great to be able to throw open the doors in September and really bring the spirit of Nonsuch Mansion House back to life. "It has a cherished place in the heart, memory and daily life of the whole community and we are committed to keeping things that way. "This is what has always made the venue so unique – it is for everybody.”
As well as catering for large events, Bovingdons also caters for in-house training courses, conferences, working lunches and board meetings.
Among its suggested lunch dishes are lacquer bowls of imam bayildi (stuffed aubergine) with feta and coriander and blinis of smoked trout and horseradish cream.
Earlier in the year, actor Kevin Whately discovered that his ancestors owned Nonsuch Mansion, when he took part in the BBC series Who Do You Think You Are.
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