Savour the ‘Golden Age’ of dining at Stafford Festival Shakespeare

Stafford Gatehouse Theatre management have this week announced the catering options for Stafford Festival Shakespeare (SFS) 2017, with Sugnall Walled Gardens once again providing the hospitality at Stafford Castle, offering picnics, pre-performance dining and food on-demand.

This year’s production of The Tempest is set against the glamorous backdrop of the1930s – the golden age of luxury cruise liners, Hollywood glitz and the dying days of vaudeville – and the dining experience at Stafford Castle will hark back to this era of elegance.

For just £12.95 per person, visitors can sample the delights of ‘Sugnall High Tea’, with a pot of tea or coffee for one, a selection of daintily cut sandwiches, a homemade scone with fruit preserve and clotted cream, and a range of cakes ‘of the day’. All this includes reserved seating in the hospitality marque – and for those who fancy splashing out on a glass of something fizzy, why not upgrade to ‘Champagne Tea’ for only £18.95 per person? Due to demand, bookings for both options are only available via pre-order.

Also on the menu, the hugely popular ‘Picnic for Two’ makes its return for SFS 2017. Prepared daily at Sugnall Walled Garden and available by pre-order only for just £25, these mouth-watering picnic hampers include a pot of olives, Anglesey Sea-Salt crisps, freshly baked Artisan sub-roll and two portions of fresh butter, homemade quiche, freshly picked salad with dressing, salami and cooked meats, smoked salmon, mature cheddar and a pot of chutney; and for desert, a Pot of strawberries (ice cream available on-site), two slices of homemade cake, as well as two bottles of spring water and a large bottle of Sugnall apple juice. There is also the option to add a bottle of one of the award-winning red or white wines on sale at the bar.

Come rain or shine, an English Summer just isn’t the same without a strawberry or two, and this year Sugnall caterers are offering a plump pot of these delicious fruits – grown on-site in the beautiful walled garden – served with either vanilla ice cream or fresh cream, and a glass of prosecco, all for £8.95 per person. 

Finally, for those seeking a quick bite on the night, there will be a daily selection of fine, artisan sub-sandwiches, with a wide range of delicious homemade fillings available from the kiosk. These fine, soft sub-rolls are freshly baked and supplied by Eccleshall’s Artisan Bakery, and also available for pre-order before midday via 01785 851556.

Orders for the picnic bags, High-Tea and/or Strawberry’s and Cream at this year’s Stafford Festival Shakespeare can be placed by telephoning via http://www.staffordfestivalshakespeare.com/catering.html

The Tempest will open on Thursday 22nd June and run until Saturday 8th July 2017 at Stafford Castle. Tickets range from the first night saver price of £13.50 up to £25.50 for Thurs / Fri /Sat evening performances. Full information can be obtained from the box office on 01785 619080 or by visiting the new website www.staffordfestivalshakespeare.com