Catering and Beverage Services

Catering and Beverage Services

A lunch buffet of spreads, salads and finger foods, with people mingling in the background
A salad in a white bowl

Choose the plan that’s right for you.

Hopwood & LaRue offers a diverse menu featuring vegan, vegetarian, and ethnic options to cater to various dietary needs. We cater events of all sizes, offering expert planning and seamless logistics.

Submit a Catering Request

Why Choose Us

Menu Creation

Our culinary experts create customized menus aligned with your event’s theme, dietary preferences, and budget, offering a diverse range from traditional to innovative fusion options.

Event execution

Seasoned catering staff manage every detail, from setting up the venue to serving food and beverages and clearing afterward, ensuring a smooth process.

Included Items

China, glass/plastic, flatware, and linens included for meal events; table linens supplied. Deliveries use paper. China outside Drysdale or Hall Campus Center costs extra.

Wedding Catering

We offer catering at Cloverlea Farmhouse, 28 six-foot tables, 160 white chairs, plus optional linens and full place settings; pricing available on request.

Bar Service

Bar setup and bartending (up to 4 hrs) for full liquor or beer-wine bars. Choose open, ticketed (tickets then cash), or cash-only service. Pricing on request.

Example Catering Menus

Hopwood & LaRue offers a variety of menu selections, though pricing and availability are subject to change.

The Traditional

A classic breakfast spread
$
  • Scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon or sausage
  • Biscuits
  • Seasonal fruits
  • Breakfast bakery basket (may include muffins, breads, danish)
  • Orange juice

Boxed Breakfast To-Go

A convenient, individually packaged breakfast option for those on the go
$
  • Large blueberry muffin
  • Granola bar
  • Individual fruit yogurt
  • Whole banana
  • Orange juice

Sandwich Boxes

Individually boxed lunches. Choose up to three varieties for groups of 10 or more, or two for smaller groups.
$
  • Choice of sandwich or salad (e.g., Turkey and provolone croissant, Chicken Caesar wrap, Chef’s salad)
  • Apple
  • Bag of chips
  • Individual cookie
  • Condiments
  • Bottled water

The Executive

A sandwich tray option for at least 30 people, with seasonal soups available as an alternative or addition.
$$
  • Caesar salad or fruit salad
  • Half sandwiches and wraps (select three types)
  • Housemade chips
  • Rockslide brownies

Lunch Tier 1

Customizable lunch buffet for 25+ people includes water, tea, and coffee. Extra drinks are available at an additional cost.
$$
  • Choice of two salads (e.g., Caesar salad, Fruit salad, Loaded potato salad)
  • Choice of one vegetable (e.g., Asparagus, Roasted vegetable medley)
  • Choice of one starch (e.g., Wild rice, Baby baked potatoes)
  • Choice of one entrée (e.g., Grilled chicken breast with blue cheese cream sauce, Sliced roast beef)
  • Artisan rolls and butter
  • Choice of one dessert (e.g., Brownies and fresh baked cookies, Assorted miniature desserts)

Down South Meal

Themed dinner buffet for 20+ people with Southern-inspired dishes. Certain beverages are an extra cost.
$$$
  • Tossed garden greens with dressing
  • Homestyle potato salad
  • Corn on the cob with sweet butter
  • Barbecue baby back ribs and barbecue chargrilled chicken breast
  • Buttermilk biscuits and butter
  • Apple pie and pecan pie

Catering Policies and Guidelines

Exclusivity

University of Lynchburg Dining Services, including Hopwood & LaRue, is the exclusive food and beverage provider at the University of Lynchburg and has the first right of refusal for all catering on campus. Outside food and beverages are prohibited unless prior permission is granted or a food waiver is obtained. The only exception to this policy is wedding cakes, where outside bakeries or cake makers are permitted. For events with a retail value of less than $300, and if the catering department cannot fulfill the request, catering can be sourced from a local restaurant or licensed food supplier.

Food Safety

The catering services adhere to strict food handling practices and local health regulations to ensure the safety and quality of food.

Waiver Process

On rare occasions when catering cannot meet an event’s food needs, food waivers may be permitted. This process ensures compliance with applicable local, state, and federal laws and requires documentation of legal responsibility, insurance, and food permits, which can take up to 30 days to complete. Contacting Hopwood & LaRue early in your planning is important for this process.

Excess Food

Due to Virginia Department of Health regulations and University policy, customers are not allowed to remove unconsumed food or beverages from an event catered by Hopwood & LaRue. H&L will remove any leftover food provided by catering services.

Alcohol Policy

Alcohol is permitted at events under strict conditions. The requested location must be a self-contained area that is not open to the public and has no public access. Insurance will also be required. Hopwood & LaRue holds an ABC license.

  • Notice: The catering department can fulfill alcohol needs with a minimum of four weeks’ notice in advance of your event. Large events require at least one week’s notice for alcohol procurement and delivery.
  • Service Rules: State law prohibits serving alcoholic beverages to anyone under 21, and age identification may be requested upon request. Service is also prohibited to anyone suspected of being intoxicated.
  • Consumption Restrictions: Guests are not permitted to take alcohol with them after an event or bring alcohol beyond the designated event space. No outside alcohol is allowed at any catering event. Donated or homemade beer, wine, or spirits are not permitted by law. The catering team reserves the right to refuse service if policies are not followed.
  • Duration: The maximum length of alcohol service is three hours. If an event lasts longer than two hours, alcohol service must end at least 30 minutes before the event concludes, in accordance with University policy.
  • Temporary ABC license (for Cloverlea): If you supply your own alcoholic beverages for a reception at Cloverlea Farmhouse, a temporary ABC license from Bedford County is required, and a copy must be provided to the University at least 72 hours before your event.
Decorations

General decoration guidelines apply to event spaces. For instance, no decorations can be attached to painted walls or pillars, and only masking tape can be used on other surfaces. Plastic fishing lines, confetti, sparkles, or rice are not permitted. All decorations must be removed immediately after the event. Open flames are not allowed without a valid open burn permit from the Office of Campus Safety and Security.

  • Florists: Delivery and setup times for florists must be arranged in advance. Real floral petals (of non-invasive species) and bubbles may be used outdoors for wedding ceremonies. Still, no product like rice, birdseed, or confetti should be thrown either inside or outside facilities. The client and floral vendor are responsible for setting up and taking down event décor, as well as for reasonable cleaning.

How to Request Catering

The Office of Catering and Events aims to make the event planning process smooth and stress-free.

Contact

For questions regarding food and beverage selections, please contact the Manager of Catering and Events at 434.544.8271 or [email protected].
Order Today

Request Submission

Submit a catering request form that details your event’s requirements, including the date, time, location, type of meal (buffet, served, reception, or delivery), and estimated guest count. For internal faculty and staff, orders can be placed via the online catering request form available on MyHive under the Online Forms tab.
External Catering Requests

Confirmation and Final Count

An event confirmation outlining details will be sent. A guaranteed number of expected guests is needed three business days prior to the event. Once a guaranteed count is given, charges will be invoiced on the guaranteed numbers or the actual number of people served, whichever is greater. For events that do not include overnight lodging, a guaranteed number of guests is required five business days prior. No cost reduction will be given if the number of guests does not meet this count after it has been provided.

Cancellations

If an event needs to be canceled, notification is required 72 hours prior to the event's start time to avoid charges. If cancellations are made after this time, any incurred expenses by dining services may be billed. If the event sponsor cancels two business days or less before the event, they will be billed for the entire cost.

Payment

A non-refundable deposit is needed to confirm the event reservation. The remaining balance is split into two equal payments unless other arrangements are negotiated.