He’s serving up the food and drink at one of West Yorkshire’s foremost tourist attractions.

Experienced caterer Anthony Hegney has launched independent contract catering business Asparagus Green Catering.

And he has hit the ground running with a contract to provide the fare at the National Coal Mining Museum (NCM) near Grange Moor.

Mr Hegney has more than 25 years experience in the industry, having worked for major names such as Elior, Centrepoint and Lindley Heritage.

He has also provided catering management for major venues including Huddersfield’s John Smith’s Stadium, London’s Science Museum, Nostell Priory at Wakefield and the National Media Museum in Bradford.

Mr Hegney said: “Towards the end of last year, I was talking to the NCM about on-site catering and they asked me if I would be interested in doing it. I made a presentation to them and I was successful in securing the contract.”

Having set up his on company, Mr Hegney is now keen to develop Asparagus Green as a business serving the wider museums sector.

The company, which already employs 10 people, is aiming to build a regular client base among visitors to the NCM cafe by providing varied and healthy menu options for families at competitive prices, with themes reflecting the region’s heritage of coal mining.

The firm also aims to further build on the NCM’s reputation as a conference venue – it has seating for 100 people in its function rooms – and as a setting for other daytime and evening events.

Asparagus Green is using products and ingredients sourced from the county, including pork products from Shepley-based Greedy Little Pig and a selection of cakes from Lindley firm Propermaid to add to its selection baked on site. It also sources Yorkshire tea from Taylors of Harrogate and coffee roasted by Meltham’s Grumpy Mule.

The firm is also supporting apprenticeships through a link-up with Kirklees College.

Mr Hegney, who lives in Huddersfield, is further raising his profile in the industry as restaurant editor for magazine Topic.

He said: “I’m proud and excited to bring my first independent catering business and extensive experience back to my home county.”