Minster Lovell Cricket Club – Slow-Smoked Success at the Club

The Challenge

Minster Lovell is a busy, inclusive club with a wide and diverse membership:

 Three senior league teams
 Sunday friendlies and midweek T20
 A strong junior section from All Stars (age 5) through to Under 19s
 Over 130 members, including juniors

With so many players, families and visitors passing through the pavilion each week, the club wanted to move beyond the traditional matchday food offer of burgers and hot dogs. The challenge was to introduce something that felt more modern, more inclusive and more engaging – without adding operational headaches for volunteers.

The Clubhouse Solution

In June 2024, the club installed a gas-fired Delivita pizza oven, secured through the ECB Welcoming Environments Grant Scheme.

The impact was immediate. The oven quickly became a social focal point and was used every Friday evening throughout the season, as well as for:

 Weekend league matches
 County fixtures
 Touring sides
 Family and community events

Pizza proved to be the perfect solution: familiar, flexible and loved by all ages. Bases were bought in, with a wide selection of toppings allowing members to personalise their food.

Pricing: £10–£12 per whole pizza
Half and quarter pizzas also available
Peak events saw 20+ pizzas sold in a single session

As Tim put it, “Being able to offer pizzas as an alternative to the conventional burgers and hot dogs has been a big plus.”

The oven was used exclusively for pizzas during the season not because of limitation, but because demand never slowed.

The Result

The Delivita oven has delivered far more than food sales.

 A more welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere
 Increased dwell time on Friday nights and matchdays
 A clear step up in food quality and choice
 Strong social engagement across juniors, parents, players and visitors

Operationally, the feedback has been refreshingly simple: “No issues at all – we just can’t cook them fast enough.”

Encouraged by the success of the pizza nights, the club is now expanding its outdoor cooking offer. For the 2026 season, Minster Lovell has secured a Blackstone 36-inch Gas Griddle with hardtop and accessories, again supported by grant funding.

The aim is to broaden menus further – including breakfast options – and explore what works best for members and guests.

Looking ahead, there are also plans to extend the pavilion, potentially incorporating a permanent outdoor cooking area, ensuring that fire, food and community remain at the heart of the club for years to come.

A simple upgrade. A big impact. And a textbook example of how ClubHouse thinking can transform club life.

What the Clubhouse says

“At village cricket clubs across the country, the role of food has changed. It’s no longer just about filling a gap between overs it’s about creating a reason to stay, connect and come back. At Minster Lovell Cricket Club, that shift has been embraced wholeheartedly.”
Minster Lovell Cricket Club Chairman, Tim Gush