Ashton Gate scoops silver award for VegFest success

The stadium, the home of Bristol City and Bristol Bears, picked up the Best Sales or Marketing Initiative silver award in recognition of the sales and marketing team's success in bringing the ever-popular VegFest to BS3.

Fifteen members of the team headed to Brighton & Hove Albion's Falmer Stadium on Thursday night (May 31st) for the Stadium Events Hospitality Awards. The team were shortlisted for eight categories which included: Catering Operations Team of the Year, Best Stadium Venue Award and Matchday Hospitality Award.

Live entertainment, great service and a fantastic venue set the stage for the exciting annual showdown which saw Ashton Gate pitted against stadium giants such as Manchester City's Etihad Stadium and Chelsea FC's Stamford Bridge.

Katie Griffin, senior sales co-ordinator, Justine Kebby, hospitality sales manager and Jessica Bate, office sales manager took to the stage to be presented with the Best Sales or Marketing Initiative award by Gavin Graimes of Oliver & Graimes creative agency.

Katie said: "We have firmly put Ashton Gate on the events-hosting map.

"We knew VegFest would be the perfect fit here. Our dedicated exhibition specialists were able to look at all options and provide visuals of how the event could work, as they looked to move from their settled base of 13 years.

"The VegFest organisers were really impressed with the stadium as a venue. We are both delighted we were able to host this fantastic event and to have been recognised for our efforts in making it a great success."

Ashton Gate's managing director Mark Kelly added: “It was great to be recognised for the work we are doing at Ashton Gate Stadium. It has been a huge season for us particularly in hospitality, with the Carabao Cup run and hosting Manchester United and Manchester City.

"Those games particularly gave us the opportunity to showcase internationally, exactly what we are able to do and that we are competing with the likes of the Etihad and Old Trafford.

"Our conference and events business is growing exponentially since the rebuild was completed in 2016 and we are now attracting huge events such as VegFest.

"These serve to put us on the map, not just nationally but internationally too."

VegFest, which ran over the weekend of May 26th/27th, is the city's third-largest event, behind the International Balloon Fiesta and Harbour Festival. It was also Ashton Gate's largest non-matchday event since the stadium's £45 million redevelopment.

The Ashton Gate team is looking forward to next year’s awards, where it fully intends to add to its Stadium Events Hospitality Awards çollection.

For the latest updates on events taking place at Ashton Gate, connect on Twitter @ashtongatestad.