---
title: "Navan Centre and Fort Seeks Catering Provider to Enhance Visitor Experience **Expression of Interest**"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0778d2"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0778d2"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0778d2.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0778d2.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "Armagh City Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council"
published: "2026-09-23"
---

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

Buyer: Armagh City Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0778d2

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0778d2)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0778d2.json)

## Summary

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.

## Notice

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.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/090236-2026 |
| 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 |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 23 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 11 Jan 2027 - 22 Sep 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Active |
| Lots status | Active |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Armagh City Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council |
| Locality | CRAIGAVON |
| Postcode area | Northern Ireland |
| Postcode | BT64 1AL |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| ITL 1 | TLN Northern Ireland |
| ITL 2 | TLN0 Northern Ireland |
| ITL 3 | TLN07 Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon |
| Local authority | Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon |
| Electoral ward | Craigavon Centre |
| Westminster constituency | Upper Bann |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 55 - Hotel, restaurant and retail trade services

### Codes

- 55500000 - Canteen and catering services
- 55510000 - Canteen services
- 55520000 - Catering services

## Release History

- 23 Sep 2026 at 15:08 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/090236-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/090236-2026
  23rd September 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://etendersni.gouk/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0778d2. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0778d2.json.