Baba Ganoush Dining

What Baba Ganoush Dining does

Baba Ganoush Dining is a York-based, family-run catering company that designs and delivers bespoke food for weddings, corporate events, and special occasions across Yorkshire and the North of England. Founded in 2013 by husband-and-wife team Matthew and Ashley Hyde, the business started from a domestic kitchen table and now operates a commercial kitchen (Unit 17 & 18, Rose Business Centre, York) alongside a headquarters at Thorp Arch Trading Estate and a dedicated events office at Marlborough House. The core product is a 'theatrical feast experience' built on fresh, seasonal, locally-sourced Yorkshire ingredients, with menu formats spanning three-course meals, sharing feasts, BBQs, canapés, afternoon tea, and fully bespoke menus including vegan and allergen-specific options. Each engagement is delivered with a dedicated chef team, event coordinators, and uniformed waiting staff, packaged with a complimentary tasting for two guests, complimentary travel within 40 miles, and tiered kitchen setup fees (£395-£800 + VAT) tied to venue type.

The business is monetised primarily through per-head catering pricing (e.g., £38 + VAT per head for a three-course sharing feast for 100 guests) plus setup fees and a 25% non-refundable booking deposit, with the sale mediated through direct enquiry rather than any marketplace or reseller. The go-to-market combines direct enterprise-style sales (initial consultation, quote, three-day hold, signed contract), wedding fair attendance across Yorkshire, and a deep venue referral network of 50+ barns, manor houses, vineyards, marquee providers, and wedding planners under a 'Friends of Baba' programme. In 2025 the founders extended the model by launching Dining by Ashley Hyde Ltd as a dedicated corporate-catering sub-brand with its own menu and email channel, and in 2026 they added a seasonal Christmas 2026 menu line. The legal entity is Dining by Matthew Hyde Ltd, a UK private limited company, 100% founder-owned with no external funding, no technology platform, and no disclosed AI capability.

Name

Baba Ganoush Dining

Legal name

Dining by Matthew Hyde Ltd

Website

https://babaganoushdining.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Baba Ganoush Dining is a York-based, family-run catering company delivering bespoke wedding, corporate, and special-event catering across Yorkshire and the North of England using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients and dedicated chef and event teams.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Catering Services

NAICS

Caterers (722320)

akta.pro primary industry

Wedding & Social Event Catering (THAHAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Event Culinary Staffing & Back-of-House Services (Chefs, Servers, Bartenders) (THAHAKAN)

Keywords

• Wedding catering
• Corporate event catering
• Private dining
• Special occasion catering
• Bespoke menu catering

Headquarters

HQ city

York

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Per-Head Catering Fees: Baba Ganoush charges a per-person price for catering services. Pricing includes all food produce, event coordinator, dedicated chef team, uniformed waiting staff, cutlery & crockery, travel costs (complimentary up to 40 miles, then £2.00 per mile), and complimentary menu tasting. An additional kitchen setup fee applies.
2. Kitchen Setup Fees: Additional revenue stream from venue setup requirements: Standard Set Up Fee of £395 + VAT for venues with professional kitchens; Full Kitchen Set Up Fee of £595.00 + VAT for equipment hire and testing; Full Kitchen Set Up Fee for Marquee/Tent/Tipi of £800.00 + VAT.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Baba Ganoush Dining is a York-based catering company that prepares and delivers bespoke, theatrically presented food for weddings, corporate events, and special occasions across Yorkshire and the North of England. Services are sold on a per-head basis, with additional kitchen set-up fees covering chefs, waiting staff, cutlery and crockery, and travel. The corporate line is operated under the brand Dining by Ashley Hyde Ltd for meetings, conferences, networking events, business dinners, and festive events.

Product overview

Baba Ganoush Dining is a multi award-winning catering company based in York, Yorkshire, offering bespoke catering services for weddings, corporate events, and special occasions across the North of England. Founded in 2013 by husband-and-wife team Matthew and Ashley Hyde, the company provides a unified catering service that encompasses wedding catering, corporate catering (operated as Dining by Ashley Hyde Ltd), private dining, and festive/seasonal event catering. The core offering centers on fresh, seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients transformed into theatrical feast experiences, with flexible menu options ranging from formal three-course dinners to sharing feasts, BBQs, canapes, and street food. Services include complimentary tastings, event planning support, uniformed waiting staff, and dedicated chef teams, with menus customizable to dietary requirements including vegetarian, vegan, and allergen-specific needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wedding Catering Bespoke wedding catering services across Yorkshire, including formal three-course meals, sharing feasts, BBQs, and theatrical food presentations for weddings of all sizes. Targeted at couples seeking unique, non-standard wedding food with full dietary accommodation including vegan and allergen-specific options.
• Corporate Catering (Dining by Ashley Hyde Ltd) Corporate event catering covering meetings, conferences, trade events, product launches, networking events, business dinners, team building events, Christmas events, deli lunches, grazing platters, hot buffets, and breakfast/brunch. Served under the Dining by Ashley Hyde Ltd brand.
• Special Occasions and Events Catering Catering services for funerals, celebrations of life, birthdays, anniversaries, and various special occasions across the North of England, with bespoke menu design and flexible venue accommodation including private homes.
• Wedding and Events Menu Catalogue Curated menu options for weddings and events, including canapés, sharing feasts, formal three-course dinners, BBQ options, dessert selections, and dietary accommodations. Available to support booking enquiries.
• Corporate Menu Catalogue Corporate catering menu options including canapés, deli lunches, grazing platters, hot feast buffets, business dinners, roaming light bites, and breakfast/brunch offerings for business events across Yorkshire.
• Private Dining Service Intimate private dining experiences for small gatherings, celebrations, and bespoke hosted events, with tailored menus and full event service.
• Festive and Christmas Party Catering Seasonal Christmas and festive party catering for corporate events, including bespoke festive menus tailored for Christmas parties and seasonal celebrations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Complimentary tastings for two guests included as standard to reduce booking risk and demonstrate food quality prior to commitment.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Barmbyfield BarnsminorOthersListed as a venue partner on the 'Friends of Baba' page. Baba Ganoush works alongside this venue as a preferred catering partner for events and weddings hosted there. Part of a network of 50+ Yorkshire venues the company collaborates with.
• Deighton LodgeminorOthersListed as a venue partner on the 'Friends of Baba' page. Wedding and events venue in Yorkshire that works with Baba Ganoush for catering services.
• Grassfield HallminorOthersListed as a venue partner on the 'Friends of Baba' page. Wedding venue partner in Yorkshire.
• Hornington ManorminorOthersListed as a venue partner on the 'Friends of Baba' page. Wedding and events venue partner.
• Little Wold VineyardminorOthersListed as a venue partner on the 'Friends of Baba' page. Vineyard venue partner whose fizz is used in Baba Ganoush's recipes (e.g., Strawberry & Champagne Cheesecake).
• Sledmere HouseminorOthersListed as a venue partner on the 'Friends of Baba' page. Historic home venue in East Yorkshire for weddings and events.
• Mansion House YorkminorOthersListed as a venue partner on the 'Friends of Baba' page. Prestigious wedding venue in York.
• Thief HallminorOthersListed as a venue partner on the 'Friends of Baba' page. Wedding venue partner. A testimonial from Cassandra & Ed who had their wedding catered at Thief Hall is featured on the website.
• The Orangery (Settrington)minorOthersListed as a venue partner on the 'Friends of Baba' page. Wedding venue partner.
• Florida MarqueesminorOthersListed as a marquee partner on the 'Friends of Baba' page. A wedding fair host alongside Baba Ganoush in January. Provider of marquee structures for outdoor events.
• BoutipiminorOthersListed as a marquee partner on the 'Friends of Baba' page. Boutique tipi provider for outdoor and festival-style weddings.
• North Sky YurtsminorOthersListed as a marquee/tipi partner on the 'Friends of Baba' page. Yurt provider for unique outdoor event accommodation.
• Emily K WeddingsminorOthersListed as a wedding planner partner on the 'Friends of Baba' page. Yorkshire wedding planner who refers catering clients to Baba Ganoush.
• Kook EventsminorOthersListed as a wedding planner partner on the 'Friends of Baba' page. Yorkshire event planning company.
• LND EventsminorOthersListed as a wedding planner partner on the 'Friends of Baba' page. Founded by Ellen Davies, LND Events is a Yorkshire-based wedding and event planning company that refers catering clients to Baba Ganoush.
• Louisianna's Mobile BarsminorOthersListed as a bar company partner on the 'Friends of Baba' page. Mobile bar service that Baba Ganoush frequently works alongside at weddings and corporate events. Recommended on the FAQ page as a bar company the company loves working with.
• Louisianna'sminorOthersRecommended bar company on the FAQ page for events where Baba Ganoush does not provide bar services. Also partnered with for corporate Christmas events.
• The Yorkshire BartenderminorOthersRecommended bar company on the FAQ page for clients needing bar services. Baba Ganoush does not provide bar services.
• Harbour and CoupeminorOthersRecommended bar company on the FAQ page. Bar service partner for events.
• Shaken and CominorOthersRecommended bar company on the FAQ page and listed as a bar company partner on the Friends of Baba page.
• York Coffee EmporiumminorOthersCoffee supplier that created the 'Baba Blend' used in Baba Ganoush's client service and recipes. Baba Ganoush showcased this partnership at the 'A Taste of Baba' event.
• Goodness Growing VegminorOthersOrganic vegetable supplier referenced in the Q&A with Matthew. Part of Baba Ganoush's local, sustainable sourcing ethos.
• The Garden Deli EasingwoldminorOthersSupplier of seasonal and organic vegetables referenced in the seasonal blog. Partnered with for fresh produce.
• Olivia Brabbs (Photography)minorOthersPhotographer who conducts up to 4 in-house photo shoots per year for Baba Ganoush to showcase new menus and presentation styles. Described as 'now part of our Baba family.'

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Searcys: One of the UK's largest event and venue catering companies, operating across London and regional venues. Comparable to Baba Ganoush in the core wedding and corporate catering proposition, but at vastly greater scale and with multiple in-venue contracts.
• Compass Group UK: One of the world's largest contract foodservice and support services companies with significant UK corporate catering presence. Represents the broad incumbent benchmark against which Baba Ganoush's premium Yorkshire corporate offering competes.
• Absolute Taste: UK-wide event and party caterer serving weddings, corporate events, and private dining. Overlaps with Baba Ganoush's bespoke theatrical positioning but operates across broader geographies including London and the South East.

Direct peers

• Lettice Events: Yorkshire-based wedding and events caterer offering bespoke seasonal menus for weddings, corporate events and private dining. Closely comparable in target customer, menu philosophy, and regional focus.
• Zafferano Catering: Yorkshire-based event caterer offering bespoke wedding, private and corporate catering across the North of England. Closest direct competitor in geography, customer base, and bespoke theatrical positioning to Baba Ganoush.
• Fosters Events & Catering: Yorkshire event catering company serving weddings and corporate functions across the region. Comparable scale and customer segments, with overlapping venue partnerships in the Yorkshire wedding market.
• The Little Yorkshire Food Company: Yorkshire-based catering company specialising in weddings, private dining, and corporate events with locally sourced menus. Directly comparable regional peer with similar farm-to-event sourcing ethos.
• Top Table Yorkshire: Yorkshire-based event caterer specialising in weddings, corporate hospitality, and private dining. Comparable in service mix, regional focus, and Yorkshire supplier relationships.
• Pierre's Catering: Yorkshire family-run wedding and event caterer offering bespoke menus and theatrical presentation. Highly comparable in family ownership, regional focus, and theatrical dining positioning.

Emerging players

• Benugo: UK catering and hospitality brand with strong events, weddings and corporate catering division alongside cafés and bars. Comparable in wedding/event catering execution with a more developed brand and broader geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Baba Ganoush Dining