UK Food & Drink Experiences for Corporate Groups: From London to the Scottish Highlands
Why Britain’s food and drink revolution is suddenly producing some of the most compelling corporate entertainment and team-building experiences in the UK programme market
Britain’s relationship with its own food and drink has undergone a complete transformation The old cliches of British cuisine – dull, grey, and unimaginative – are no longer the story Instead, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have come together to produce some of the worlds most amazing food and drink We are talking about the country that gave us Scotch whisky, Cornish crab, top-grade beef from Herefordshire and some of the most diverse urban restaurant scenes in the world For corporate groups, this food and drink revolution has created a whole new category of programme content that is authentic, memorable and only available here
At Unique DMC, our food and drink experiences are one of the most popular programme elements by a long way – and consistently get the highest ratings from our delegates afterwards Here’s our guide to the UK’s most fantastic gastronomic corporate experiences across all four nations
Why Food & Drink Works So Well for Corporate Groups
Food is a great leveller Whether its abseiling or black tie, its not everyone’s cup of tea But sharing a meal and a drink with colleagues is different – its something everyone can enjoy And shared sensory experiences like these create conversations, memorable moments and a sense of shared cultural experience When the food or drink is genuinely top-notch – like a moment of surprise and delight from a single malt whisky from the Highlands – then that’s the kind of programme moment that gets talked about back in the office
“The best food and drink experiences for corporate groups do two things at the same time: they teach you something genuinely interesting about a place, and they create the kind of relaxed, equal conversation that builds relationships”
Signature UK Food & Drink Corporate Experiences
Highland Distillery Experience
SCOTLAND · WHISKY TRAIL
Take a private tour and tasting of one of Scotlands top distilleries: Glenfarclas, Glenfiddich, The Macallan or Dalmore. With a master distiller-led tasting of rare and aged whiskies that you can’t even buy in the shops. The whole atmosphere of a working distillery, the stills, the warehouses and the smell of oak and spirit, is just magic
Scottish Seafood Safari
SCOTLAND · COASTAL
Get on a boat and head out to the waters around Argyll or the Orkney Islands to catch langoustines, crab and oysters straight from the sea Then get back to shore and feast on them The combination of fresh air, exercise and the freshest seafood in the world is unbeatable This is food that can only be found in Scotland
Private Chef’s Table – London
LONDON · MICHELIN DINING
Dine at the best tables in London’s top restaurants Whether its a private room in Mayfair or Covent Garden, or getting up close and personal in a kitchen counter dining experience at one of London’s hippest neighbourhood restaurants This is the chance to enjoy the best food and drink with some of the most talented chefs in the world
British Craft Brewery Tour & Tasting
UK-WIDE · CRAFT BEER
Weve got hundreds of amazing small-batch breweries across all four nations Take a private tour and tasting at one of the best: BrewDog, The Kernel, Thornbridge or Magic Rock Get behind the scenes of the brewing process and taste some of the most exceptional beers in the world
Artisan Food Producers Trail – Cotswolds
COTSWOLDS · ENGLAND
Visit the finest artisan food producers in the Cotswolds From farmhouse cheese to small-batch charcuterie, farm distilleries and heritage apple orchards for cider tasting End the day with a feast made from the days produce This is the perfect way to experience the beauty and authenticity of English food and countryside
Welsh Slate Supper – Snowdonia
WALES · MOUNTAIN DINING
Dine on the finest Welsh produce in a converted quarryman’s cottage on the edge of Snowdonia With a menu that showcases the best of Welsh food culture: salt marsh lamb, Menai oysters, Harlech cheese and Penderyn whisky This is a truly unique and unforgettable experience
Building a Food – Led Programme for Your Group
Food & drink experiences really come alive when they’re woven into the fabric of the programme, rather than treated as some gap in between sessions that you’ve got to fill. What works best is building the culinary content right in from the start, like a morning visit to a distillery followed by a private lunch made with ingredients sourced from the local area, then an afternoon food market challenge, and finally a dinner where the winning team gets to put on the spread. It’s the thread of the food experience that gives the whole day a sense of narrative flow.
Getting the right format for the right group
The right food experience is key to getting things just right for your group. A Michelin-starred chef’s table, for example, is a great choice for a small senior client evening with a guestlist of 8 to 16 people. It’s personal, it’s high-end, and it’s got all the ingredients for some genuine and lasting conversations. Another option is a cooking challenge for a bigger incentive group of 40 to 100 people – the energy, the friendly rivalry, and the meal that everyone gets to share afterwards all come together to create some amazing memories that’ll last a long time. And then there’s the classic distillery or brewery tour – that works for almost every group because it’s got a bit of something for everyone: education, a great environment, and some real sensory pleasure.
A note on planning from Unique DMC
You’d be surprised at how complex things can get when it comes to catering for people with dietary requirements these days. You’ve got vegans, vegetarians, halal, kosher, coeliacs, and all sorts of other special needs that have to be taken into account. And instead of just being a courtesy, Unique DMC makes managing these kind of requirements a proper part of the programme – collecting the information when people first sign up and then making sure that all your food suppliers are aware of it well in advance. That’s not just good practice, it’s the professional thing to do.
Design Your UK Food & Drink Programme
Whether you’re after an evening at a Highland distillery or a Michelin-starred dinner, Unique DMC can create a bespoke food and drink experience for you anywhere in the UK.