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Navan Centre and Fort Seeks Catering Provider to Enhance Visitor Experience **Expression of Interest**

Armagh City Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

23 Sep 2026 at 15:08

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council is seeking a provider to operate the café and wider food and drink offer at Navan Centre and Fort, a heritage attraction just outside Armagh City. The service covers developing and running an on-site catering offer, with catering for events, education groups and tour operators when required. The attraction combines guided tours, living history, education programmes, events, a gift shop and a coffee shop, and the catering service is intended to complement the site’s heritage and visitor experience. The work is delivered at Navan Centre and Fort, near Armagh City, Northern Ireland.

The Council invited offers through a below-threshold open competition. The process reached tender, with the buyer seeking expressions of interest from potential catering providers. The enquiry and submission deadline set by the Council was 7 October 2026 at 12:00. The single lot’s contract period is scheduled to run from 11 January 2027 to 22 September 2028. The published estimated value is £0. The stated evaluation basis is “MAT”; the source does not explain this term. Electronic submission is allowed, and submissions are directed through the eTendersNI portal. The opportunity is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises.

This opportunity may suit an independent café or catering operator, as well as an established food business able to serve visitors and provide event catering. The provider is expected to develop a distinctive destination food and drink offer that fits a heritage attraction, and to cater for events, educational groups and tour operators when required. Suppliers with the capacity to handle the site’s visitor flow, group bookings and busy events programme are well placed to respond. The Council also seeks ideas that support the site’s heritage identity and Northern Ireland’s food reputation, while improving visitor satisfaction, encouraging longer visits and repeat custom. The service calls for a partner able to work with the Council and contribute to the attraction’s longer-term growth.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Navan Centre and Fort Seeks Catering Provider to Enhance Visitor Experience **Expression of Interest**

Notice Description

Navan Centre and Fort Seeks Catering Provider to Enhance Visitor Experience Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council is inviting potential catering providers to operate the cafe and food offering at Navan Centre and Fort. Located just outside Armagh City, Navan Centre and Fort is a leading heritage attraction built around the ancient ceremonial site of Emain Mhacha, the legendary capital of Ulster. The Centre welcomes thousands of visitors annually through its guided tours, living history experiences, education programmes, events, gift shop and Coffee Shop. With growing visitor numbers, a busy events programme and increasing opportunities for group and corporate bookings, the Council is seeking a catering provider to help enhance the visitor experience and contribute to the future success of the site. The successful operator will have the opportunity to: * Develop and operate a destination food and drink offer within Navan Centre and Fort. * Deliver catering services for events, educational groups and tour operators, where required. * Introduce innovative food and beverage concepts that align with the heritage and brand of the site, while supporting the Borough's reputation as Northern Ireland's Food Heartland. * Work in partnership with the Council to enhance visitor satisfaction, increase dwell time and encourage repeat visits. * Contribute to the long-term growth and success of Navan Centre and Fort. To find out more about the opportunity interested providers are encouraged to make contact via the means listed within the documents. For media queries or more information, contact details within.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0778d2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/090236-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - open competition
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services

CPV Codes

55500000 - Canteen and catering services

55510000 - Canteen services

55520000 - Catering services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
7 Oct 2026Today
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
11 Jan 2027 - 22 Sep 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Armagh City Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CRAIGAVON
Postcode
BT64 1AL
Postcode Area
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN07 Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon
Electoral Ward
Craigavon Centre
Westminster Constituency
Upper Bann

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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