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Set your heart racing
Although Scotland boasts some of the most picturesque scenery and unique corporate venues in the world, there are few locations that capture the beauty of the countryside while still being accessible by the majority of the population.
Both Edinburgh and Glasgow offer many enticing venues for corporate and private functions, but they're viewed by some to be a bit too urban for that special out-in-the-open experience.
Step forward Hamilton Park Racecourse, and let the location do the talking…
There is something uniquely relaxing and satisfying about eating lunch and entertaining colleagues and clients while gazing out at the panoramic views overlooking one of Scotland's finest racecourses. With its perfect location in the heart of Scotland, Hamilton Park Racecourse is an elegant and exclusive multi-purpose facility for all types of events, from conferences and seminars to exhibitions, open-ground teambuilding and away days, concerts, wedding receptions, dances, workshops and birthday parties.
Prestige Scotland, the fine dining arm of Sodexho, is committed to developing their partnership with the racecourse after winning the contract earlier this year.
Gavin Tiffin, General Manager of Prestige Scotland's catering and events at Hamilton Park, believes that the racecourse team is now better placed than ever before to offer bespoke and flexible packages for any type of event:
"When we were awarded the contract in May, we really hit the ground running," he says. "Since then we've been building on what was already here – the flexible infrastructure, the fantastic location and the unique facilities – and we've managed to triple conference and banqueting business since we started."
Part of the success that Prestige Scotland has enjoyed over the last few months is attributable to the racecourse's location on the outskirts of Glasgow. "We're in a fantastic situation," continues Gavin. "We're near the two biggest Scottish cities but when you see where we are it's a green, open and very quiet place – it's like you're out in the countryside and yet you're only a few minutes from civilisation. When you come here you really feel like you're getting away for the day – there's nothing else like it in Glasgow, or indeed Scotland."
Another contributing factor to their successful five months is down to the venue's facilities and flexibility for different events, both during and outside the racing season, and the relationship Prestige Scotland enjoys with the racecourse management team.
"We cater for a variety of corporate and private functions here, and family days as well," continues Gavin. "It's a very relaxed atmosphere, and we work in tandem with Hamilton Park's Chief Executive, Alastair Warwick, to ensure that it's approachable to everyone, from families and businesses, to entertainers and charity organisations.
"On the second floor of the glass-fronted Grandstand that overlooks the track, we have 13 boxes for executive boardroom lunches and private dinners. With a choice of bespoke in-house catering or the a la carte restaurant for more formal gatherings, there's a solution for every corporate or private occasion. We can hold 250 for a dinner-dance in our purpose build Club Lawn Marquee, which is a unique venue in itself, and up to 1,000 in a marquee in the grounds."
Indeed, weddings present a particularly attractive opportunity for Hamilton Park to demonstrate its strengths. Offering fully integrated services for receptions, including the coordination of all the key aspects, from the cars to the cake and the photography to the filming of videos – plus, of course, the food itself - Prestige Scotland can accommodate the requests of even the most demanding clients, and offer any combination of services that might be required.
"Brides can come to us and stipulate exactly how they want their day to be, and we can offer bespoke packages and flexible solutions to make their day as special as they had hoped it would be," adds Gavin.
Underlining the flexibility of facilities, Hamilton Park has just announced a new partnership with Cash for Kids who will be benefiting from the popular charity fixture, taking place next year on Wednesday evening 11th June. A well-known fundraiser in the West of Scotland, the charity evening is the highlight of the racing season, featuring high quality racing within a fantastic social environment. Corporate Hospitality plays a key role in this night with corporate marquees booked out across the site and with the involvement of Cash for Kids the glamorous nature of this evening will be further enhanced with plenty of celebrities turning out to support the cause.
And, despite the honour of being placed in the Racing Post's Top 10 racing venues in the UK, the fun doesn't finish when the season ends: "The beauty of Hamilton Park is that when the racing season does finish, the entertainment continues all year round and we offer a blend of the highest quality food and drink matched by arguably the best service in Scotland," adds Gavin. "We have a great opportunity here to really appeal to people who until now have only ever considered racecourses as a venue during the racing season. Because we offer our unique location and services all year round we can cater for outdoor activities in the summer seasons and indoor events when the nights draw in."
Behind the scenes, Gavin is backed up by Prestige Scotland's Executive Chef, Stephen Frost, who is responsible for the overall menu development, and a dedicated team of trained staff supplied by Prestige People, Prestige Scotland's in-house team of staff who work at events and venues all around Scotland: "The staff we employ are experienced and reliable, and because they form part of the main infrastructure of Prestige Scotland it means we can cope with anything from smallest gatherings to the biggest and most demanding events and we know we can rely on our staff to do us proud," concludes Gavin.
However, should their own staffing resources ever run thin on the ground, Prestige Scotland have an ongoing working relationship with Blue Arrow Recruitment, who supply them with equally experienced staff to cover shortfalls on busy days.
So, despite the inclement Scottish weather in winter, the going is good all year round at Hamilton Park Racecourse, which is, in Gavin's own words, "a hidden gem in a city centre location."
Indeed, it makes you wonder if anywhere else could better it.
Hamilton Park Racecourse
Bothwell Road
Hamilton
ML3 0DW
Tel: 01698 458 132
Fax: 01698 458 935
www.hamilton-park.co.uk
www.prestigescotland.co.uk
This article has been edited from its original version. For the complete feature, please see Catering in Scotland magazine November/December 2007.
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