September at The Busy Food Company: Markets, Match Days and Giving Back

As the evenings draw in and autumn settles over Lancashire, we've been looking back on September. It's been one of those months where the diary barely had a blank space, and we wouldn't have it any other way. From a new market and new catering work to the end of the cricket season and two lovely charity events, here's what's been keeping our kitchen busy.

Bringing our food to Shout HQ

Outside catering has been a big part of our month, thanks in large part to the Shout networking group. We've hosted their Chorley group for a few years now, so it's been lovely to build on that relationship. We're now delivering catering to people who hire spaces at Shout's HQ in Preston. It's given us the chance to meet lots of new local businesses and to see our food become part of their meetings and events. For a small, family-run business, relationships like this mean a great deal.

Our first Penwortham Farmers Market

At the start of September, we set up our stall at Penwortham Farmers Market for the very first time. It's a well-established market with a loyal following, so we were delighted to be invited to join such a great mix of local producers. There's nothing quite like chatting to people face to face about what goes into our pies, and we loved meeting so many new faces. The market runs on the first Saturday of every month.

Last orders for the cricket season

September also brought the cricket season to a close, and with it our final match day delivery to Brinscall Cricket Club. Providing the match day food has been one of the highlights of our summer. There's something special about being part of a proper village sporting tradition, where the tea interval is almost as important as the scorecard! A big thank you to everyone at the club for having us this season.

Supporting local charities

Being part of our local community matters to us, and this month we had two lovely chances to support good causes. First, at The View Bar & Bistro, we hosted a charity race night for the Oak Royal Golf Club Captains' Charities, Rosemere Cancer Foundation and Alzheimer's Society. It was an evening full of fun, friendly rivalry and plenty of cheering, and it raised an incredible £865. Thank you to everyone who came along and supported both events.

Then, up we joined St Joseph's Primary School in Withnell for their Scarecrow Festival, which raised funds for Rainbow Hub. We served breakfast sandwiches to families as they set off on the scarecrow trail, and seeing so many people out enjoying the village together was a real treat.

Being part of life's big moments

Some of the work we're proudest of is also the most personal. This month we catered for more than a dozen family events, including christenings, a couple of very special "big" birthdays and a number of funeral wakes. Up at The View, we also hosted big birthday parties and christenings. Each of these occasions matters so much to the families involved. Whether it's a celebration or a day for saying goodbye, we never take it for granted when we're trusted to be part of it.

A record month at The View

It's been a busy month in the bistro too. Our deal nights have gone from strength to strength, with Chippy Tea, Steak Night and our roast all full of familiar faces. The real headline, though, was Burger Bonanza, which was our busiest ever! We've also enjoyed welcoming several golf societies to Oak Royal, and it's always great to see groups making a day of it.

Thank you

Thank you for being part of such a memorable September. Whether you've visited our market stall, joined us at The View or trusted us with a special occasion, we're truly grateful. Here's to a cosy autumn, and we'll see you in October.