London Sw1's multi-purpose venue and tourist attraction, Central Hall Westminster has seen a 20% increase in cafe sales since completing its £250k refurbishment and rebranding, in partnership with onsite caterer Kudos.
Wesley’s Cafe, situated in the iconic venue’s under croft, has embraced an abundance of customers since its fresh new look and rebranding in September 2018, significantly improving the experience of event professionals and members of the public who come to enjoy their coffee, breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea.
The comprehensive overhaul encompassed the restoration of the original parquet flooring, new LED lighting and renovation of the glass conservatory area. The spacious seating in the café matches the brand colours and has been transformed to meet customers’ diverse needs from comfortable sofas for relaxation to banquettes with power sockets for working. Uniforms have also been rebranded along with the introduction of new appliances, wifi and digital screens in what has culminated in a contemporary yet welcoming ambience.
The food experience has widened with refreshed menus changing daily and the addition of live cooking stations to engage customer interaction. A gourmet burger bar, an extended salad bar and a complete new line of ethical artisan products have also been added. A new separate coffee bar with fully trained baristas serving flavours of the month such as Mint Hot Chocolate, Turmeric Latte and Beetroot Infused Cappuccino have perked up the coffee offering too.
Feedback from surveys carried out since September suggests 90% of customers consider the overall Wesley’s Café experience to be good or great, covering key factors such as service, quality and ambience. Recent comments on TripAdvisor have described the café as “a hidden gem” as well as “an oasis amongst the bustle of London” with a “healthy selection of fresh food”.
Matthew Herter, Chief Executive at Kudos, said, “The refurbishment has transformed Wesley’s Cafe in to a highly attractive establishment for Central Hall Westminster’s diverse range of customers, from event professionals to members of the public. We are delighted it has gone down so well with customers, resulting in a 20% increase in sales.
'The restyling and introduction of new initiatives has created a vibrant culture and welcoming space that offers a greater variety to our customers. We will continue to infuse creativity into both our food and our culture to maintain customer satisfaction and attract a wider market.”