The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will enjoy a South West themed lunch prepared by award winning University Chefs on 2nd May at the official opening of the jewel in the crown of Event Exeter’s venues, the Forum.

The Forum is a £48 million development for the heart of the University of Exeter’s Streatham Campus, creating an inspirational mix of outside and inside space.  As well as providing a central point for student services, this flagship building will provide a variety of vibrant event spaces. 

New additions include two 60-seater exploration labs, twelve seminar rooms and a technology-rich 400-seat auditorium. There are also social spaces for visitors to enjoy within the Forum including the existing Terrace Restaurant and Great Hall and the exciting new Market Place retail outlet which will also open on the 2nd.

During the visit, which is part of the Diamond Jubilee Tour, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will enjoy a tour of the Forum, watching music and theatre performances by students before joining guests for a Devon and Cornwall-themed lunch, prepared by three of the University chefs.

Just last month a team of chefs from the University won the prestigious TUCO Chef’s Challenge award, which has been run annually by The University Caterers Organisation (TUCO) for the last 19 years.

The event is a highlight of any university chef’s calendar with over 20 universities and 60 chefs competing for the coveted gold medal. The four-course meal which had to be created in just two hours following set guidelines impressed the six judges, including Michelin starred-chef Nigel Haworth.

Head Chef and Team Leader Richard Narramore said, "We are over the moon to have won the gold award. It has been a long journey to get to this point, the team of chefs involved had to work hard to ensure we had the right menu. To be crowned overall winners this year was just fantastic!"

After winning the Gold Award our chefs are now preparing for the honour of cooking a meal fit for the Queen at the Forum opening. Overseeing the menu is Head Chef of the Terrace Restaurant, Rob Doidge, who along with two other University chefs, has been preparing for this VIP lunch for months. “It will be significant to me as a British subject to have the great honour of cooking for The Queen and Prince Phillip. Meeting The Queen would have to be the highlight of the day and one of the highlights of my life. It will also be exciting to see months of preparation come to fruition.”

Members of the public are invited to join University staff, students and guests in welcoming The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh to the Streatham Campus. Details of the visit will soon be made available on the University website.

To find out more information on the Forum or other venues at the University of Exeter please click here