Latest news with #TasteCafe
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Dorset Museum says it 'cannot subsidise' Taste cafe in fees row
A museum has issued a new statement after the operators of its on-site cafe blamed its fees for the demise of a late night which runs the cafe in Dorset Museum, said its Night at the Museum supper and tours had become unviable after a 550% fee increase from the museum, which disputes the 550% figure, said the "modest contribution" it requested was to cover its costs, adding it could not "subsidise commercial activity".Taste Cafe said it stood by its original announcement but declined to comment further. According to museum bosses, Taste has a commercial licence to operate the cafe, retaining revenue and catering for events, while the museum receives a rental museum, in Dorchester's High West Street, previously said it had supplied staff and tours for the supper pilot scheme and charged Taste £50 per event - however its latest statement says the charge was actually £120. It said the "nominal amount" did not cover its costs but "was a supportive gesture to enable this pilot".The statement said: "Our insurance requires at least two members of museum staff on site during all events. "This makes any out-of-hours events a cost-bearing exercise for our charity."Unfortunately, the modest contribution we've requested to cover these costs and ensure the financial sustainability of the museum has been deemed unviable by Taste and they didn't take up an alternative model that was offered."While we regret this, we cannot subsidise commercial activity at the expense of our charitable activities."In it's previous statement, Taste said: "Sadly we will no longer be able to host these evenings due to a cost increase of over 550% from Dorset County Museum."Unfortunately it is not sustainable for a small business like ours."We're incredibly disappointed, as these nights were a real highlight for us." You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Taste cafe blames Dorset Museum fees as it scraps evening event
A cafe that operates inside a museum says it will no longer hold a popular evening event after the museum increased its Cafe and Dorset Museum began hosting their Night at the Museum meal and museum tours on a trial basis last Taste said the sell-out events were no longer sustainable after the museum increased its fee for staffing and tours by 550%.Dorset Museum said it had been operating at a loss during the trial period, which had now come to an end, but said its fee increase had been "very small". It said the "nominal amount" it had charged Taste had not covered its costs for providing staffing, museum access and guided tours. A statement released by Taste said: "Sadly we will no longer be able to host these evenings due to a cost increase of over 550% from Dorset County Museum."Unfortunately it is not sustainable for a small business like ours."We're incredibly disappointed, as these nights were a real highlight for us."Museum executive director Claire Dixon said: "The partnership [with Taste] is really important to us but we also recognise that we are all working in a challenging climate and need to ensure we achieve the right balance between income generation and cost management. "We are committed to supporting Taste with any activities and events that widen access for visitors and generate income for both of our organisations, whilst ensuring we cover any costs we incur, so we can continue to develop our own activities."Dorset Museum reopened in 2021 following a £16.4m revamp, but the Covid-era relaunch and a sharp increase in costs left it year it received £250,000 of lottery money to invest in schemes to increase footfall and diversify income. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
