A HOSPITAL is looking for a company to take over their restaurant with no rent or bills to pay.
Street food vendors, caterers and restaurateurs are invited to provide a new food and drink service at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.
The Kemp Town hospital is run by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSussex), which also manages hospitals in Chichester, Worthing, Shoreham and Haywards Heath.
Their free concession offer comes in response to the support the Trust received from both the public and local businesses during the pandemic.
Director of facilities and estates, David McLaughlin said: “We were blown away by the support of our communities and many offers of free food we received when Covid struck.
“Now, as we look to reopen our Waves Restaurant in Brighton, we want to give something back and do all we can to provide affordable, healthy and environmentally sound food and drink options.
“That’s why we will not charge our new partner rent, utility bills or facilities fees – instead, we want savings to be passed on to our patients, visitors and hard-working NHS staff.”
To apply for a six-month concession, businesses must have a 5-star food hygiene rating, as well as employers’ and public liability insurance policies.
David added: “This pilot really is a unique opportunity and hopefully the first of many new community partnerships we will be forging across Sussex that benefits the public, our people and the planet.
“At University Hospitals Sussex, we’re proud to try new things that support the communities we serve.
“So, please help us to share this opportunity with food specialists across Sussex.”
To find out more about the process, email uhsussex.ryr-buying@nhs.net .
Those interested can make the subject matter "Expression of Interest for a Community Food Catering Partnership Tender" and mark the email as high importance.
Tender documentation will be issued to all suppliers expressing an interest and the deadline for tender responses is scheduled for May 13, 2022.
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