Guy’s and St Thomas’ seeks alcohol supplier for hospitality venues
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust has issued a public tender for the supply of wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks for its hospitality areas. The contract, worth an estimated £416,230 excluding VAT, is due to begin in January 2026 and represents a rare opportunity for suppliers in the public sector drinks space.
According to the official notice published on the UK Government’s procurement portal, the alcohol is intended exclusively for hospitality functions, including the Thomas Guy Club, a long-standing venue at the trust serving staff, patients and guests. There is no indication that alcohol will be served in clinical or inpatient areas, and such restrictions align with standard practice across NHS estates where alcohol consumption is limited to licensed non-clinical zones.
Alcohol has long been served within NHS trusts under carefully managed conditions. Many hospitals offer hospitality services, cafés, private function rooms or staff clubs, where alcoholic beverages are made available in line with local licensing laws. Previous procurement partnerships, such as those facilitated by catering groups like Avendra, have supplied beverage services to NHS trusts with a focus on sustainability and responsible sourcing.
Ethical considerations remain measured
While alcohol misuse presents a public health concern, its provision in strictly non-clinical, hospitality contexts poses minimal ethical tension. For hospitality operators, this represents an opportunity to support morale and experience for hospital visitors and staff, provided service remains responsible and separate from patient care.
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The trust is inviting bids under a competitive flexible procedure. The total contract value is £499,480 including VAT, split across two lots: wine (£151,080 excluding VAT) and beer, spirits and soft drinks (£265,150 excluding VAT). Suppliers may only apply for one of the two lots.
A supplier engagement day is scheduled for the week commencing 18 August 2025, with a formal tender expected on 8 September. Contract award is anticipated by 9 December 2025, with a service start date of 19 January 2026 and the possibility of extension until January 2031.
A rare public sector opening
For drinks suppliers, especially SMEs, this tender offers a rare route into a major public sector client. With the trust explicitly encouraging supplier engagement and transparent standards, the opportunity lies not only in scale but in the reputational value of delivering to one of the NHS’s most prominent institutions.
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