Minack Open Air Theatre - catering

[FannyCann]

Visited the Minack theatre yesterday evening - I've been quite a few times over the years but not for some time so my planning was not clever. Packed all the warm clothes, cushions, rugs etc but food planning was sketchy. We stopped to look around Mousehole along the way, and had bought the best pasties at Mary's in Truro, so being starving we sat and ate the pasties in the car which is a bit naff but I could see seagulls divebombing people and wanted to eat in peace. Of course that meant we didn't have picnic for the evening performance - If I had been sensible we would have had pub/cafe food along the way and saved the pasties for later. There were quite a few decent looking outlets in Mousehole.

Anyhoo...The Minack has various catering so I thought we'll just have what's there, no problem. We were in good time and among the early ones investigating supplies. We literally bought the last two sandwiches. Not long after there was a public announcement that pasties had sold out (not that we wanted more pasties obv). Point is they had pretty much sold most of the food at the matinee performance and hadn't catered for the evening performance.

What is wrong with British attractions like this? Gorgeous location, beautiful gardens, clean loos with pretty, fresh flower arrangements at every sink, great performance and lots of good shows to come through the summer season.
But food??? Who wants that???

I just find it incredible that they wouldn't plan for two shows a day as they have two shows most days. Also there is a beautiful cafe with stunning views at the top. Why on earth don't they do pre-theatre dinners there - they could literally charge what they liked, loads of people would pay to eat there. Quite a few Americans in the audience, we were surrounded by wealthy people. I'm sure there are lots of capable caterers who would love the opportunity to ply their business at evening performances there. It's so typical of the UK. Also there is a pub called the Lamorna Wink nearby. Menu looks great. I'd have liked to have eaten there. But they are closed Monday and Tuesday. I get that publicans and their staff want days off. But the summer season is short - it's the opportunity to maximise business and profits ready for a slow winter. Many of the Minack shows only run Monday to Thursday with one off shows on Friday and Saturday. So I'm pretty sure they would do good business on the Monday and Tuesday pre-theatre, even if they did a reduced menu and opening times geared around the show times. It's bonkers.

https://www.lamornawinkpub.com

So anyway, we had a great day, some enjoyable exploring, thoroughly enjoyed the show (Twelfth Night), daughter and her friend who had never been before with us, they loved it all. I would recommend anyone holidaying in Cornwall to have a trip there, it's always a pleasure. Perhaps everyone else plans food better than me. I just don't understand why places like this don't make more of the opportunity presented by a captive audience.

www.minack.com/whats-on/by-genre?genre=events&page=1

I’m guessing they’re conscious of stock control and specifically cater to ensure they don’t end up with a lot of unsold food?

Particularly in a setting like this where a lot of people bring food with them.

What did you go to see? I’ve been to visit Minack but never for a show- it doesn’t look that comfortable.

Adding some photos.

Twelfth Night - abridged and modernised. I enjoyed the production and there were snatches of lovely music and one of the performers singing beautifully.
Family in front of us youngest was about 4/5 not interested and girl aged about ten determinedly reading her book until light failed but the older ones seemed to enjoy it and I guess the parents had wanted to go so the kids come too. I have childhood memories of going with my grandparents and always loved it, and took ours to matinees when they were fairly young. I remember them loving a performance of Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves when youngest was about 4.

You don’t go there for comfort! Sitting on the terraced rows your feet are behind the people sitting in front/below you, with the feet of the people above behind your back. It’s reasonably spacious so you don’t end up literally sitting on someone’s feet but there is an element of polite consideration required. They do sell those foldaway seats that have a back to them but we just took cushions so no leaning/slumping possible.

I understand not wanting waste when catering and lots of people (most?) are better organised about picnics than me but I still think they could do more and more importantly are missing out on the associated income stream. Lots of arrivals and departures by taxi, I suspect some coming from smart hotels in the area. That cafe at the top should be doing so much more.

They probably can't get the staff @FannyCann .

Shame about the catering. It really is a great location. We took DD there when she was about 9 for her first Shakespeare performance - the Tempest, the weather held except for a bit of rain at exactly the right time. And we spotted a seal from the cliffs beforehand.
and of course there’s a gorgeous beach, and the brilliant museum.

Probably because most people don’t eat meals while watching the theatre do they? Maybe a snack but why would people want that much food? I’ve always just eaten before or after a show.

Probably because most people don’t eat meals while watching the theatre do they? Maybe a snack but why would people want that much food? I’ve always just eaten before or after a show.

I love the Minack. A lot of people take picnics so I guess catering numbers are tricky. I'm pretty sure there's other stuff like crisps, chocolate always available etc if you're really hungry.

The Lamorna Wink is nice. There's other pubs and restaurants nearby too so with a bit of Googling you can usually find somewhere to eat.

The whole Minack experience is usually wonderful though. The setting and scenery alone is absolutely amazing.

The Minack is an open air theatre.

A pre performance picnic admiring the amazing sea views is quite common in the summer. I agree it would be a bit odd in an indoor theatre but it's a popular option for outdoors.

OP....

I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that, in the decades of the Minack being open, various permutations have been tried. Many people will bring picnics to the theatre to eat during or beforehand - if the LW isn't open on Mondays and Tuesdays, then there probably isn't enough business from the audience to sustain a meal service on those nights and not enough 'top up' from local/other holiday business. It's not summer holidays yet.

Again, with the selling out of sandwiches - I'm sure if they sold out every day at the matinee, they would adjust accordingly. Possibly there was a supplier issue or a large group arrived who hadn't thought about a picnic. Again, they may stock more in July and August. And the Minack always runs the risk of weather halting productions and having to bin any short dated food - I can see that they wouldn't want to be overstocked.

To be fair, they are literally in the back of beyond so they can't quickly stock up in a local supermarket.

We have allergies in the family so never expect to eat our anywhere and always take our own food

It is a problem. DD worked in several cafes in Cornwall over several summers, went travelling in winter when they're closed. But it meant she had the nightmare of either paying rent with no income or giving up her accommodation and having to find a new job and flat when the cafes open in March
Job never a problem, but somewhere to live? Not easy. I don't know the answer.

It looks like the cafe at the top is open during the day for theatre/garden tours and then the 'kiosks' in the theatre open after that, so may be that the same staff move down to the kiosks, making a fuller day of wages.

I am just joining this thread to ask a side question.
I have read and loved all the Derek Tangye books about his and his wife’s life with their animals in a cottage in Lamorna. I believe he left the land he owned as a nature reserve which is open to visitors.
Has anybody been there?
I am disabled so will probably never be able to visit Lamourna (or Minack) but would love to hear about anyone’s experience.

Probably down to problems getting enough staff to cover it, as well as patchy unpredictable demand.

Coastal communities are now so hollowed out due to second homes and holiday lets that it’s very challenging to staff hospitality venues on the coast. Especially somewhere not accessible via public transport.