Diversified Communications UK has today confirmed that this year’s Casual Dining and Commercial Kitchen events, due to take place in July, have sadly been cancelled. Casual Dining will now run on 10-11 March 2021, with the dates for Commercial Kitchen to be announced.
The decision follows the recent and unexpected news that ExCeL London is to become a temporary NHS ‘Nightingale’ hospital providing support for up to 4,000 COVID-19 patients.
Chris Brazier, Diversified UK’s group event director, says: “Like all businesses, we’ve been closely following the rapidly changing developments during these unprecedented and difficult times. With ExCeL, our venue, now taking on an important role to help the NHS during this national emergency, it became clear that we had no other option but to cancel the shows until next year.
“We appreciate how integral Casual Dining and Commercial Kitchen are to the industries they serve and are very sorry to disappoint the thousands of attendees that were planning on exhibiting and visiting this year. The people working in, and supplying, the foodservice, hospitality, catering and leisure industries have been hugely affected by events of the past few days and weeks and we will continue to support these communities – our communities – in every way we can. I know that we’ll all continue to support each other in the months ahead.
“The success, as well as the safety of our exhibitors, speakers and visitors, has always been our priority and I know everyone will get behind this tough but necessary decision.
“The Casual Dining and Commercial Kitchen teams would like to thank everyone – our exhibitors, visitors, partners and suppliers, for their continued support and patience, and we look forward to seeing you all in 2021 for the busiest and biggest celebration of our industry yet.”
Casual Dining will take place on 10-11 March 2021 at ExCeL London. For more information, please visit www.casualdiningshow.co.uk.
Commercial Kitchen 2021 will take place at ExCeL London (dates to be announced). For more information, please visit www.commercialkitchenshow.co.uk.