East Fife FC is delighted to announce Balgowan Fine Foods as our new hospitality catering partner for the upcoming season. Led by the highly respected and locally connected Chris Hazelton, Balgowan Fine Foods brings a fresh and exciting flavour to matchdays at the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium.
Chris Hazelton, Head Chef and founder of Balgowan Fine Foods, boasts an impressive culinary career. Rising through the ranks of some of Scotland’s best kitchens, Chris became Executive Chef at Peebles Hydro in 2015. His journey then took him to Carnoustie’s Rookery and the prestigious St Andrews Links, where he oversaw both kitchen and front-of-house operations as Head of Food and Beverage. In 2018, he was honoured by his peers with induction into the Master Chefs of Great Britain—a recognition of his talent, leadership, and contribution to the industry.
This year, Chris took the exciting step of launching his own food manufacturing business, and East Fife FC is proud to be one of his first major projects. His first game in charge of hospitality at Bayview will be the home match against Alloa Athletic on Saturday, 9th August.
Chris brings more than just culinary skill to the role—he brings passion and a personal connection to the club. “One of my first jobs was on the turnstiles at Old Bayview and then at New Bayview,” Chris shared. “Old Bayview was just up the road from my grandparents’ home. Looking after the hospitality at Bayview is a perfect fit for me and the team. I have a passion and reputation for big flavours and friendly hospitality and can’t wait for the first game of the season so we can get going.”
Lee from the East Fife Commercial Team commented:
“First of all, I want to say thank you to Rod and Louise from RL Catering who came in last season and made an unbelievable difference. Our hospitality offering went through the roof towards the end of last season, which allowed us to attract some top-quality candidates. Chris comes with a real pedigree that matches our ambition. He’s worked in some of Scotland’s top hotels, catered at Royal Ascot, and is one of the elite group of Chefs who can call themselves a Master Chef in Britain. The fact that he’s got ties to the club is the icing on the cake.
“We’re beyond excited for the start of the season and welcoming guests new and old to get a real ‘taste’ of the MGM Timber Bayview Stadium. We were absolutely blown away by the quality of applicants for the position, but from the moment we spoke to Chris, we knew we had our man.”
We look forward to working with Chris and the Balgowan Fine Foods team to elevate our matchday experience and deliver best-in-class hospitality to fans, sponsors, and guests.
Full details of hospitality packages and pricing will be announced soon. Stay tuned and prepare to enjoy a whole new level of East Fife matchday experience!
