Madingley Hall achieves highest rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association

The Institute of Continuing Education at Madingley Hall has been rewarded for its exceptional standard of sustainability with the highest possible rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA).

The Hall received three 'Food Made Good' Stars from the SRA in recognition of the high standards it demonstrated across all aspects of its operation. The SRA’s rating, which assesses food service operators in 14 key areas, across the three pillars of Sourcing, Society and Environment, is regarded as the Michelin Stars of sustainability.

The assessors were particularly impressed by the Institute’s commitment to serving students, staff and guests with quality, locally sourced seasonal produce.

Ian Hardwick, General Manager at Madingley Hall, said: “We are immensely proud of our achievement and the partnership we have with the SRA. We have a clear commitment to sustainable activities and believe that local produce should underpin everything we serve within Madingley Hall. We will continue to support local producers and suppliers across our activities”

Menus, which include free-range lamb, beef and pork from nearby farms, change frequently to reflect the seasons.

The SRA found high standards and a clear commitment to maintaining the health of its customers and the planet, with a wide range of healthy eating initiatives as well as numerous environmental initiatives. These include the installation of energy-efficient equipment in the kitchen, training staff in effective water efficiency and using environmentally friendly cleaning products exclusively.

Supporting a number of local charities, like the Arthur Rank Hospice as well as national causes, Madingley Hall demonstrated an outstanding dedication to supporting the community too.

Andrew Stephen, Chief Executive of the SRA, said: “All our consumer research shows that the public’s appetite is growing for well-sourced food and a meal that does good as well as tastes delicious. It’s brilliant to be able to reward Madingley Hall with Three Stars for its clear commitment to giving its customers the chance to make genuinely positive choices about how and what they eat.”

Madingley Hall is one of a growing number of educational organisations putting sustainable catering at the heart of their operations. More than three dozen university and college caterers are now members of the SRA as well as a number of school operators.