THREE of the North East’s most famous visitor attractions are opening their doors to diners.
Newcastle’s Great North Museum: Hancock, Discovery Museum and the Laing Art Gallery attract thousands of visitors every year, keen to view exhibits, archaeological artefacts and world famous artworks.
Now, the venues, all at the heart of the city, have unveiled a range of private dining menus for those wanting to celebrate a special occasion, or host a business dinner, in a unique and spectacular setting.
As well as the bespoke menus it offers event organisers, Sodexo Prestige Venues & Events, which manages conferences and events at the three venues, has created a locally-themed dinner and two wide-ranging set dinner menus for seated events.
The locally-themed menu includes starters such as Northumberland vegetable broth with a mini stottie, while main courses feature slow braised beef in Newcastle Brown Ale sauce and locally reared minted lamb rump, with desserts such as cheesecake made from locally grown strawberries.
Meanwhile, dishes from the set menus include chicken liver terrine with red onion chutney followed by slow roasted rump of lamb with root vegetables and warm chocolate fondant with crème Anglaise.
Sodexo has also created a range of hot and cold bowl dishes – the fashionable alternative to canapés.
These include Thai green prawn curry and rice, mushroom risotto with shaved parmesan, crayfish and crabmeat on rocket leaves and sweet alternatives such as raspberry crème brûlée and lemon and bay leaf posset.
Along with their public galleries and exhibition spaces each venue has a range of smaller rooms, enabling them to hold events of all sizes, from weddings, to lunches, parties and fundraisers.
Sandria Charalambous, senior events coordiator for Sodexo Prestige Venues & Events, said: “The main attraction of the Laing Art Gallery, the Great North Museum and Discovery Museums is their versatility.
“An event could begin with a drinks reception in the shadow of the historic SS Turbinia, for example and continue with dinner in Discovery’s magnificent, vaulted, art nouveau, Great Hall.
“Alternatively, guests could drink and dine alongside a life-sized replica of a Tyrannosaurus rex and other wonders of the natural world at the Great North Museum: Hancock or within view of some of the finest pre-Raphaelite paintings at the Laing.
“And, from canapé receptions and working lunches to afternoon cream teas and black tie dinners, we source the finest ingredients.”
For further information about private dining at Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums’ venues, call 0844 856 1074 or e-mail events@twmuseums.co.uk.