From Diamonds to The Dales

An events manager who produced the royal barge at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee River Pageant in June has left behind the lure of London and returned to her rural Ripon roots.

Caz Lockwood has relocated from the capital to run the outside catering and event management arm of her brother Matthew’s restaurant.

Matthew has developed Lockwoods Restaurant in Ripon into a successful business over the last seven years, and launched Lockwoods on Location 18 months ago following demand from customers for restaurant-quality food at their own events and private parties.

Caz is now aiming to help it both expand into the corporate market and develop into a large and well-established event management and outside catering company throughout Yorkshire and beyond.

Caz, 31, has spent the last seven years living in London and working as a freelance event producer. She has managed corporate and public events including conferences, product launches and dinners for up to 1,000 people in the UK, Europe and the US,

Her most recent role was producing the royal barge for the Queen’s river pageant, and she was with the Queen as the barge led the flotilla of 1,000 boats down the Thames on June 3. Caz also worked on the England 2018 World Cup Bid.

But she said, despite her experiences in London, her real desire had been to return to Yorkshire to work with Matthew to expand Lockwoods’ outside catering and event management business.

Caz, who has worked with some of the top catering companies and chefs during her time in London, said: “It was an absolute privilege and an amazing experience to be part of such an important public event as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and gave me a few visits to Buckingham Palace.

“I now want to use that experience to grow Lockwoods on Location.”

Since its launch at the end of 2010, Lockwoods on Location has created bespoke menus and events at weddings, private events and venues. The company is now recommended caterers at Barley Hall and The De Grey Rooms, both in York, and runs the catering, bar and event management at Ripon Rugby Club. It is also the recommended caterer for Bivouac, near Swinton Park.

Matthew added: “Lockwoods on Location is going from strength to strength, there are lots of opportunities open to us and I am delighted to have Caz back here to take this on.”

Lockwoods on Location, 83, North Street, Ripon. www.lockwoodsonlocation.co.uk Telephone: 01765 647086