Successful suppliers will be added to the Kensington landmarks’ accredited list, which runs from 2010. Some 200 events are catered for every year at the museum.

Applicants must have over two years experience catering at London venues and convince the museum that they can enhance its events business.

“The tender for catering contracts is historically the most popular and always attracts intense competition from within the industry. With the museum only accepting the best of the best, this is an exciting time for us and for our clients, and we are looking forward to receiving a high number of applications,” said Natural History Museum head of events and catering Zoë Watts.