Lifestyle: Eating Out – Villa’s Restaurant VMF earns a top food rating
ASTON Villa’s Restaurant VMF has become the first football club eatery to earn a top food rating.
The community training restaurant has been rated as ‘excellent’ by the Sustainable Restaurant Association [SRA] and awarded two stars for its all-round efforts to offer a dining experience that doesn’t cost the earth, making it the first football club restaurant to win such an accolade.
Diners at Restaurant VMF get to enjoy a three-course dining experience in the Directors Suite on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (with the exception of match days), prepared and served by students on a two-year apprenticeship.
The vast majority of the fresh fruit and vegetables served in the restaurant are grown at the club’s own nearby allotment which is run by partner community organisation Roots and Renewal.
Honey from hives on the allotment is also used.
Alison Plant, head of sponsorship and hospitality at Aston Villa, said “We are delighted to have achieved our two star rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association.
“As a club we are passionate about sustainability and our commitment to working with young people in our community.
“Restaurant VMF is a fine example of this work and one which we are immensely proud of.”
The SRA’s rating assesses restaurants like VMF across all aspects of the business, considering their social and environmental impact as well as the provenance of the food they serve.
The SRA’s assessors were impressed that Villa’s executive chef Peter Reed takes the restaurant’s apprentices on regular visits to meet suppliers and producers, the majority of which are located within the five counties surrounding the West Midlands.
Also impressive is the rain water harvesting from the ground’s Holte End which is used on the allotment to water the crops.
Mark Linehan, managing director of the SRA, said: “All too often Premier League football clubs get publicity for the wrong reasons. Here is an example of a restaurant serving up quality food as well as much need training and employment opportunities to the local community.
“Congratulations to Restaurant VMF for setting a great example for other clubs to follow.”
