| Location | St Ives Guildhall |
| Property Address: | Street an Pol, St Ives TR26 2DS |
| Essential Information: Invitation to tender document | Invitation to tender document |
| Duration | 2 years with an option to extend for up to 5 years. |
| Submission Closing Date | All proposal submissions must be received before 9am on Friday 14 March 2025 by email, clearly marked: FAO Head of Culture and Community, Guildhall F&B EOI |
| Application document & how to submit | To complete and submit your expression of interest proposal complete this application form |
| tenders@stives-tc.gov.uk |
Background Information:
The Guildhall Belongs to the People of St Ives.
ln 2019, St Ives Town Council began a regeneration project to breathe new life into the Guildhall building. Having secured £3.1 million through the St Ives Town Deal as part of the £19.9 million Government ‘Towns Fund’ this transformational project work is now underway, the future starts now!
See: stivesguildhall.co.uk/future
Since 1939, the Guildhall has been a multi-purpose live performance venue and host to community and civic events, weddings and weekly markets.
It will be significant moment in the Guildhall’s history when it re-opens early in 2026
Our ambition is for the Guildhall to be the centre of live performance for West Cornwall and to be a culturally significant venue regionally and nationally. Building on its heritage, we want to do more and work in partnership to develop and deliver high quality experiences for people that entertain, inspire, celebrate and surprise!
With more activities and events in our programme, we aim to provide our young people with opportunities for training and work experience. We also want to work with local businesses and organisations. We hope to grow our creative sector locally, give a boost to local businesses and generate revenue that we can recycle back into the local community.
In St Ives, we excel at hospitality and there are many established local businesses delivering quality food and beverage services. For this reason, we are looking for a potential partner to launch our daytime concession when we re-open. This expression of interest seeks proposals from businesses to work with us to develop and deliver a fantastic F&B offer when the Guildhall re-opens early in 2026.
We have opted to seek expressions of interest now, as we want to select and work with a potential partner from an early stage, to design a business opportunity and facility on the site which works for all parties. We are open to innovative proposals and alternative delivery models. We don’t rule out working with a start-up, although we will factor in a track record in assessing proposals.
Our Aspiration
Ideally, we are looking for a business who:
• Has significant experience in the catering industry and has been involved with a successful catering business.
• Has a strong track record
• Is a collaborator, open to shared and co-located working.
• Is committed to customer care, good competitively priced food and good times.
• Is flexible and embraces the concept of the Guildhall as a multifunctional venue.
• Has values and a brand identity, which complement our own.
Trading space & sizes
When the Guildhall re-opens, a new light and airy glazed foyer will welcome people into an extended, fully modernised bar and café space. The new space will be licenced and include public conveniences, fast broadband, box office and cloakroom facilities, front of house. Whilst the footprint will continue to have space constraints, as for any town centre site, the new forecourt has been redesigned to include level access, and this will open up the significantly untapped potential of this flexible space. There is scope for pop-up tables and chairs, and events in the outdoor terrace, highlighting this unique venue offer and create new experiences.
Included as part of the new back of house provision, is a new kitchen space. The kitchen will be fitted out to include: walls and floors (kitchen spec) stainless steel tables, worktops, ventilation canopy, sink, water and electric supply. Alongside the bar, which will be managed by the Town Council, is a cellar area and service and deliveries entrance, accessed through the carpark. Although not directly part of the concession, there is scope to utilise a much larger commercial kitchen area in the hall basement, on occasion, by agreement.
Areas
• Kitchen – 8.2m2
• Front of house space (Welcome Entrance) – 26.4m2
• Foyer – 103m2
• Estimated capacity of FoH and Foyer – 66 persons.
• External Forecourt – 31.6m2. (Capacity to be determined).
As the contractors are currently on site, there will be an opportunity for our selected partner to work with us on some of the details of the fit out to ensure it can deliver the business plan. You are encouraged to review the layout plans to inform your assumptions about seating and the estimated number of covers.
See all of the plans HERE.
Location and Market
St Ives has a population of 11,000 people and is an internationally renowned visitor destination. The town, one of the busiest in the UK, has on average, 540,00 day-visitors and 220,000 staying-guests every year, all looking for a taste of what our local community can experience all year round.
The site is located at a busy junction and pedestrian thoroughfare, enroute to the town from the station and seafront. Barbara Hepworth’s ‘Dual Form’ sculpture is located on the forecourt as a celebrated part of the redevelopment, making the Guildhall a key destination for art enthusiasts.
The Guildhall offices and main reception deliver all the Town Council business and hosts the staff team and Councillors. The Guildhall upper rooms are regularly used for meetings and weddings, and there are also some commercial tenants in the main office building.
The Guildhall is already a popular and well-known landmark building in the centre of the town. It is home to a weekly St Ives Farmers Market and seasonal markets that run from April to October. During the height of the season, daytime footfall into the Guildhall to attend markets can exceed 1,000.
New Programming
Weekly markets will continue to feature and are a significant draw, but they will sit within a much broader and busy programme. The re-design of the foyer and entrance are key elements of the project, because we want to improve visibility and kerb appeal. These features will benefit the F&B concession, located at the front of the building.
The Guildhall is the main venue for September Festival – those two weeks are currently the building’s busiest along with New Year.
Pro-active, new and increased programming is the key driver to Guildhall’s business development plan. During its opening year, the target is to host up to 70 ticketed events, averaging one evening show a week focusing on the weekend, and 2 daytime events. The programme will be a broad mix of comedy, theatre, and community events with a developed music offer at its core. This builds on the Guildhall’s past successes, the style and design of the auditorium, and aims to appeal to our local demographic.
Capacities for seated and standing shows in the auditorium will be 320 and 500 persons respectively, with 70% of the programme being seated.
Terms
This is an initial expression of interest, accordingly, whilst the proposed core terms are set out below, there is scope for further dialogue and engagement with our preferred partner, to agree the detailed arrangements. Your response to this EOI should set out how you meet the core terms and convey any additional elements or variation. If you wish to propose alternative terms, please give reasons.
Duration
This is primarily for a daytime F&B Concession contract for a minimum period of 2 years with an option to extend for up to 5 years.
Hours of Operation
There is scope for a daily operation (we propose between the hours of 08:00-17:00), with opportunities to expand to complement the Guildhall auditorium programming on evenings and weekends. We would like the cafe to be open regularly on set days, to provide certainty for our customers. There can flexibility on the number of days throughout the year dependant on season and programme. However, in line with the Town Deal funding objectives for an all-year-round economy, we won’t be able to support a business which only opens seasonally. We will be looking for an operator to commit to an average minimum number of 4 days a week to ensure we maintain an active frontage and profile.
Offering
Although the primary focus for this EOI is the daytime offer (the evening bar operations to support the Guildhall programme will remain with the Town Council). We welcome you to put forward innovative catering ideas for our evening programme and pop-up daytime events as part of your collaborative working approach. For the right business, there could also potentially be opportunities, to supply catering services for weddings and other private events, which would be subject to separate agreement.
You will bring your own ideas and expertise to the proposed concession. However, the EOI should set out your vision for the market segment you are appealing to, price point and evidence of market demand and ways to distinguish and ensure a unique offer, compared to other local businesses. Please include some sample menus.
The Guildhall is a licenced premises, and the café will benefit from this. Your proposals should assume that you are a café, able to serve alcohol as part of your menu. However, alcohol should always be consumed alongside food and so your proposals should not be for a bar. The Guildhall bar will be open for events and your offering should complement, not compete with it.
The cafe space is located at the front of the building, it has the capability to be operated separately, if the auditorium is closed during evenings and weekends. Equally, when the hall and bar are open, we are looking for a partner who will work alongside us seamlessly to deliver a high-quality F&B experience.
Financial Offer
Although this is an initial EOI process, it is important for all parties to set out their expectations of the financial arrangements from the outset.
This is a new opportunity, and the Council is testing appetite and market interest. Given this, there is scope for you to propose how the finances would be structured, including the rent offer. (However, it is important to bear in mind that your financial offer will form part of the Council’s evaluation and ultimate partner selection).
The following should inform your financial offer:
• The Council is not permitted to cross subsidise a commercial business. Your proposal should, therefore, anticipate covering its share of core operating costs including (but not limited to) utilities, cleaning, business rates, waste and broadband. We can provide further information on these costs as a guide.
• Your proposal can be set out either on a fixed rent basis or core rent plus profit share.
• Any proposals for rent free periods should be time limited and set out your plans for stepping up to monthly or quarterly rent payments.
• Our refurbishment construction works will fit out a basic commercial kitchen space plus front of house and terrace design and furnishings, but your proposals must assume you will supply and provide any additional equipment needed to support your business.
• Any final contract terms will be subject to necessary certification, insurances, licences and include a 12-month break clause and pre-agreed KPI’s.
Your business profile
Our primary aim is to offer this opportunity to local business. You are likely to be an existing business, but you could be a start up with a good track record. We are keen to share this space with like-minded, committed people, delivering a thriving high-quality café offer at the heart of the Guildhall. You should tell us about your local business profile and your brand and how you would propose the partnership between your business and ours could bring synergies and benefits.
Legal relationship
The concession will be offered in the form of a formal lease, excluded from the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. As part of the dialogue with our selected partner, we will finalise and agree the heads of terms for the lease. This will set out the areas of joint and specific responsibility discussed and defined as part of the process.
St Ives Town Council has a facilities, premises and maintenance team, who will be responsible for repairs and maintenance and delivering building and H&S compliance. The partner business would be responsible for kitchen fit out and ensuring that all kitchen equipment, stock and staffing arrangements are in place and that it would operate in accordance with the Town Council’s policies.
Within the EOI, we will be asking you to set out how you propose to run day to day operations and any lease terms you would seek, together with your proposal for rent
About St Ives Town Council
St Ives Town Council is a small but independently minded parish council in West Cornwall. Ambitious for the future with a strong vision for developing & delivering services locally and focus on St Ives being a great place to live, work and visit.
Our Core Values:
• Ambitious for the future
We want St Ives’ communities to be a happy healthy vibrant place where everyone can thrive. We will be forward thinking and innovative to achieve positive outcomes.
• Championing St Ives
We put St Ives’ communities at the heart of everything we do.
• Collaborative
We can achieve far more by working with others. We will work closely with other councils, the local community voluntary groups and businesses to develop common goals and get things done.
• Celebrating our History & Culture
We value the rich history & culture which make the parish special. We will continue to celebrate, promote and invest in our unique heritage.
How to Make an Expression of Interest
We are inviting expressions of interest and using the Guildhall F&B Expression of Interest Proposal application form (Located HERE) provide a written proposal to include:
• Your experience – a statement or CV explaining your relevant skills and experience.
• Your approach to the context of the Guildhall as a multi-purpose live performance venue, how you see this working in relation to the café and why you are interested in this opportunity.
• Your idea – describe the offering including typical audiences, market segment, opening hours, and spend per cover.
• How you see your business operating in partnership with St Ives Town Council and how being at The Guildhall would support the development of your business
• Details of your team/ proposed staffing operational structure and approach to management.
• Information on your business, sustainability and the type of food you are producing or intending to produce / serve (please include a sample menu and prices).
• Your commitment to community; do you / will you employ local people/create new jobs?
• Commitment to being a Real Living Wage employer
• Your approach to sustainability, environmental impact and contribution towards local community & economy
• Please include submission of 3-5 images of your current operation (if relevant) to demonstrate the visual identity of your brand and marketing / promotional activity if applicable.
• Expected contract terms annual rent and / or fee proposal to the council including an outline financial plan for the first two years showing your target gross turnover levels.
Please also include your details
• Contact Name
• Business Name
• Address
• Post Code
• Contact Number
• Email
• Website
• Socials
How we will assess your proposal
When the Council assess your proposals, it will score them 60% on quality and 40% on price.
Price – Rent Payable / or fee proposal (40%)
Quality (60%)
We will score bids on quality as follows
• Experience and track record (15 marks)
• How does your proposal align and support the Guildhall ethos and ambitions and Town Council’s Values (15 marks)
• Business set up and approach (10 marks)
• Sustainability and environment, supporting the local community and economy (10 marks)
• Creative and collaboration approach / examples (10 marks)
There is no length limit, but we suggest that you keep submissions fairly brief at this stage.
Conditions:
• All EOIs must include all information requested
• This is an informal EOI process, and the Council does not undertake to accept any proposal.
• EOIs received after the deadline will not be considered.
• The Council reserves the right not to proceed and if it wishes to accept any offer, it would be subject to contract.
How to Apply & Deadline
• To apply, submit your expression of interest proposal application form by email to tenders@stives-tc.gov.uk
• Deadline for applications is 9am on Friday 14 March
• We will then review the expressions of interest received and draw up a shortlist for interviews during the first week of April
• If you have any questions please contact Emma Gibson, Head of Culture & Community: 01736 797840
