Rockpool Tour Catering

ROCKPOOL CATERS FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

Having toured the world with Muse, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, and Florence + The Machine, West Yorkshire catering company, Rockpool Tour Catering tells TPi’s Jacob Waite why feeding vulnerable communities in lockdown is their most rewarding post to date.

Following frequent meetings with Wakefield Council at Production Park in West Yorkshire, Rockpool Tour Catering Director, Peter Di llamore-Bailey, and the Directors of Production Park, Adrian, Lee and Ben Brooks, as well as Backstage Academy, set about creating a not-for-profit project to supply meals to underprivileged children in their local community.

“We read some articles in the press about children going to school without a nutritious breakfast,” Dillamore-Bailey told TPi. “Our initial thought, before the COVID-19 pandemic, was to utilise our network and supply chain to provide the local community with healthy produce to deliver to schools, or drop-off points, where those in need can pick up care packages, to give them a nutritious start to the day.”

However, once the COVID-19 crisis hit, the collective decided to change tack. “We reached out to Wakefield Council and asked where we could help; after several Zoom meetings, we were granted access to six local community hubs,” Dillamore-Bailey explained.

“Our suppliers Dovecote Park in Pontefract and Aldi stores very kindly supplied us with as much sustenance as we required to maximise

the items that we could send out.” Having picked up pallets of meat, previously sponsored a local student at Backstage Academy and various Rockpool Tour Catering chefs at Production Park Café voluntarily began industry-related events and food drives on a small scale, the current recreating meals for the community hubs and efforts mean that while touring is not an option, the food parcels. company can focus all its attention and resources “We’re up to nearly 14,000 meals so far since we started in mid-April, so we’ve been pretty “We’ve always focussed on into providing sustenance to those in the community who need it most. busy,” Dillamore-Bailey reported. creating jobs in an area with “We have been very busy with touring over the In line with recent COVID-19 safety guidelines and regulations, each of the chefs has their own very few opportunities for years, so this is the first food drive of this scale for us,” Dillamore-Bailey said. “It is something we’re designated working area. young people. We want to going to continue to do.” “Luke, our Head Chef, and Dec, his Second chef, and I set up the kitchen in two totally change the mindset for how In fact, at the time of writing, the company is set to launch a ‘back to school’ initiative with local separate food preparation areas – the meat people perceive the catering students, schools and summer camps set to be the supplier arrives outside, and we unload the van while keeping a 2m distance,” Dillamoreindustry and show there major beneficiaries. “We’re aiming to have around 50 students a week spending some time with one Bailey explained, adding that as well as social are alternative pathways if of our touring chefs, either at Production Park or distancing, hand sanitiser stations and face masks are in abundance. you’re looking to work in the their school, where they will embark on a tutorial to create a healthy meal from simple ingredients at a

“The strict procedures haven’t changed live events sector.” safe a social distance.” our processes much; the café is closed to the general public, and we have recently launched Peter Dillamore-Bailey The news comes following the company’s recent video shoot Studio Kitchen at Production Park’s The a takeout option during lockdown.” Having Rockpool Tour Catering Director Mill, London with Metallica’s Personal Chef, Simon

Mitchell who has toured with the metal titans, on behalf of Rockpool Tour Catering, for a number of years.

“We are set to launch a video series, which will also feature our touring chefs, with a focus on mental health, touring and balancing relationships on the road,” – something which Dillamore-Bailey, as one half of Rockpool Tour Catering, along with his partner Charlotte, have first-hand experience of.

Th e next show is featuring Dillamore-Bailey cooking a classic dish from the Muse Drones tour he dished up for the band and talking about his experiences with his partner Charlotte.

For Dillamore-Bailey, reinventing the business and diversifying revenue streams has been not only a challenge, but ultimately, a necessity. “Touring is the core of our business. Unfortunately, not a lot of catering companies are going to come out of the other end because they don’t have the expenditure to set up a new revenue stream. Simply put, it’s tough for everybody and we want to encourage discourse with all the catering companies involved in tours, to help and support those that are struggling. Equally, devising a way to share the spoils when live events eventually return,” he underlined. “Although we are competitors, most of us are one big family, at the end of the day.”

While Italian cuisine seems to be the flavour of the month – the menu is complete with homemade pasta and restaurant-quality, stone-baked pizzas – the presentation and sustainability of the packaging is equally important to Rockpool Tour Catering. “We’ve gone green across the board, which we have extended to our touring – there are no plastic water bottles, plant-based lids, all our packaging is biodegradable cardboard.”

Providing sustenance to those in need has always been on Rockpool Tour Catering’s radar. “We’ve always focussed on creating jobs in an area with very few opportunities for young people. We want to change the mindset for how people perceive the catering industry and show there are alternative pathways if you’re looking to work in the live events sector.”

Dillamore-Bailey dubbed partners, Production Park and Backstage Academy as “amazing” in facilitating the initiative. “To see the smiles on the faces on families who have lost everything or have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic makes it worthwhile. And on the other side of it, there are families who have always been in that position, which is now made twice as hard.”

At a time when politics is so divisive, to have confidence in local community and be able to provide for the community is more important than ever. Dillamore-Bailey concluded: “It’s probably the most rewarding and positive thing we have done in the whole time running this company.” TPi Photos: Rockpool Tour Catering www.rockpooltourcatering.com www.productionpark.com www.backstage-academy.co.uk