Servicing Hospitality for Book Lovers and Literary Greats
Each autumn, Cheltenham welcomes the world’s leading authors, thinkers, and storytellers for ten days of literary celebration – and Relish is proud to play a central role in fuelling the festival spirit through exceptional hospitality.
As a catering partner to the Cheltenham Literature Festival, we provide two key services: a public-facing café designed for booklovers, and a fully serviced private Writers’ Room for festival guests, authors, and industry professionals.
The Festival Café
At the heart of the festival village, Relish created a welcoming, book-centric café where visitors could pause between talks and panels to enjoy artisan refreshments and light meals.
We served:
• Bristol Twenty artisan coffee and hand-blended teas
• Freshly made sandwiches and seasonal salads
• Hearty soups and signature sausage rolls
• Cakes, bakes and grab-and-go options
The café was designed to be both functional and atmospheric, with seating for reading and conversation, and a calm, cosy aesthetic that reflected the tone of the festival.
The Writers’ Room
For authors, curators, and key guests, the Writers’ Room served as a private sanctuary of hospitality throughout the festival’s ten-day run. We provided curated catering from morning to evening for up to 200 guests daily.
Each day, we delivered:
• Breakfast (9am – 11am): Fresh pastries, fruit platters, granola, yoghurts, and barista coffee
• Buffet Lunch (12pm – 2pm): Seasonal mains, vegetarian options, colourful salads and artisan breads
• High Tea (3pm – 5pm): Scones with clotted cream and jam, elegant finger sandwiches, and sweet treats
• Buffet Dinner (6pm – 9pm): Warming dishes and sharing platters designed for relaxed evening dining
A Literary Logistics Masterclass
Running two distinct venues simultaneously for ten consecutive days requires careful planning, consistent delivery, and a deep understanding of the client’s audience – all of which are hallmarks of the Relish approach.
We provided:
• Café infrastructure, service staff, and daily restocking
• Four fully catered meal services per day for the Writers’ Room
• Hospitality for over 2,000 guests across the event’s run
• A thoughtful, book-loving hospitality experience in keeping with the festival’s tone
At Cheltenham Literature Festival, Relish delivers more than just food – we create thoughtful, literary-inspired hospitality environments that support creativity, connection, and comfort at every turn.
