Melbourne Cup 2025: A Celebration of Style, Energy & Exceptional Hospitality at Suited

Every year, Melbourne Cup captures the country, but in 2025, Perth well and truly had its own heartbeat.
And that heartbeat was Suited, and at the centre of it all, four key partners helping bring the vision to life:
Suited Events, Ultimo, Hire Society, and The Kingsman.

With its biggest entertainment lineup to date, Suited transformed Cup Day into a full-scale celebration of fashion, music, food, and connection. The kind of day where everyone arrives dressed to the nines, the champagne flows easily, and the energy feels electric from the very first moment.

Live runway shows. Breathtaking fashion on the field. Roaming musicians weaving through crowds. A main stage loaded with bands and DJs who kept the atmosphere alive long after the races. Every corner of the precinct offered something new to discover, and every detail was thoughtfully built to create a day people would rave about.

Together, they created three distinct experiences, each with its own personality, its own flavour, and its own kind of magic.

 

SUITED BIRDCAGE
Where the buzz was loudest, the champagne was coldest, and the food matched the energy.

If there was one zone that captured the spirit of Cup Day, it was the Suited Birdcage.
This is the place people come for the fun, the front-row action, the music, the dancing, the endless flow of Taittinger, and the big crowd moments that make events like this unforgettable.

More than 700 guests moved through the Birdcage, with roaming access from 11am to 3pm. For two full hours, Ultimo delivered a steady stream of premium flavours across four food stations each packed with colour, heat, crunch, and freshness. It wasn’t “event food”; it was food that held its own in the atmosphere.

STATION ONE: The Bao Bar

Soft bao filled to the brim with:

  • Crispy roast pork
  • Peking duck
  • Hoisin tofu for our plant-based guests
    Bright, fresh, fragrant, impossible to walk past without grabbing one.

STATION TWO: Fire + Comfort

  • Charred chicken with chilli herb green sauce
  • Garlic butter rice (that people absolutely came back for)
  • A hearty vegan bowl with beans braise, roasted pumpkin and herb rice.
    Warm, crowd-pleasing and generous.

STATION THREE: The Tortellini Station

  • Beef cheek tortellini in spicy buttermilk
  • Spinach tortellini for the vegetarians
    Rich, velvety and a perfect “Cup Day pause” kind of dish.

STATION FOUR: Middle Eastern Goodness

  • Spiced lamb pita with mint, cucumber and pickled onion
  • Warm hummus + tabbouleh for plant-based guests
    Comfort food with a fresh summer twist, and completely biodegradable service ware to keep the day sustainable.

The Birdcage was loud, joyful, colourful, and overflowing with celebration. Everywhere you turned, people were raising glasses, sharing food, embracing the moment — and Ultimo was right there in the energy, plating flavour to match the atmosphere.

 

TAITTINGER LONG TABLE LUNCHEON
Elegant, relaxed, timeless — a long lunch done beautifully.

Set along the Swan River under a 40-metre marquee, the Long Table Luncheon offered the kind of long lunch people talk about months later.

With 400+ guests seated along one continuous table, this was the place for those who prefer their Cup Day with a touch of calm, conversation, and refinement, without losing the sense of celebration.

Styled by Hire Society, the setting was crisp, polished, and effortlessly beautiful. Taittinger Champagne flowed throughout the four-hour beverage package, and Ultimo’s three-course menu became a highlight in its own right.

SHARED ENTRÉE

  • Seared scallops on-shell with mango, ginger and lime salsa
  • Torched chicken roulade with miso cucumber and Yuzu
    Fresh, bright, perfectly balanced, and made to share, which always brings people closer.

SHARED MAIN COURSE

Alongside warm artisan ciabatta (and a frankly addictive flaky sea salt butter), guests enjoyed:

Proteins:

  • Seared barramundi with Mojo Verde
  • Ultimo’s signature slow-braised beef cheek with celeriac cream

Sides:

  • Crispy roasted kipflers (the kind that disappear fast)
  • Grilled seasonal stonefruit salad with truffle dressing
  • A bright zucchini + snow pea salad with black garlic and toasted oats
    The entire menu was designed to feel abundant, fresh, and reflective of WA’s produce, generous plates at the centre of a long, joyful table.

PETITE FOURS (2pp)
The perfect “little something sweet”:

  • Bitters & key lime tart
  • Burnt Basque cheesecake with raspberry
  • Wattleseed chocolate cake with saltbush caramel
  • A gentle, elegant finish to a long lunch that blended sophistication with warmth.

 

KINGSMAN PRIVATE STABLES
A VVIP experience designed for those who wanted a day that felt utterly special.

For guests who value privacy, exclusivity, and elevated service, the Kingsman Private Stables delivered an experience that felt luxurious without feeling stiff.

Spread across six private zones, 307 guests enjoyed their own oasis inside the Suited precinct, complete with personal service, premium styling, and a curated Ultimo menu to match.

This wasn’t about being “seen” it was about sinking into comfort, connection, and hospitality that felt personal.

COLD CANAPÉS

  • Natural oysters with raspberry mignonette + finger lime
  •  Wagyu bresaola with goat cheese and saltbush

WARM CANAPÉS

  • Truffle mushroom arancini
  • Teriyaki beef skewers with crispy garlic
  • Jumbo panko-crumbed prawns with Geraldton Wax honey emulsion
  • Herb & parmesan lamb cutlets
  • Pulled lamb with kipfler potato + pickled onion cream

SUBSTANTIAL BOWL
A crowd favourite:
Chargrilled Peruvian chicken with lime, coriander, green chilli and garlic rice.
All served with flexibility for GF and vegetarian requests, because luxury should always feel generous and inclusive.

 

The Private Stables felt intimate, stylish, and relaxed, a space where guests could enjoy their own private celebration while still being part of the broader atmosphere.

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Suited Melbourne Up 2025 Perth Ultimo Catering Events
Suited Melbourne Up 2025 Perth Ultimo Catering Events
Suited Melbourne Up 2025 Perth Ultimo Catering Events
Suited Melbourne Up 2025 Perth Ultimo Catering Events
Suited Melbourne Up 2025 Perth Ultimo Catering Events
Suited Melbourne Up 2025 Perth Ultimo Catering Events
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A Partnership That Makes the Day What It Is

Behind the glamour and the music and the champagne towers is a team of dedicated partners working together seamlessly.

Suited Events brings the vision.
Hire Society brings the styling to life.
The Kingsman delivers Perth’s most exclusive venue space.
And Ultimo crafts the flavour, the food that brings people together.

Suited has been shaping Perth’s event scene since 2014, building experiences that feel alive, inclusive, magnetic, and genuinely exciting. The 2025 Melbourne Cup event captured everything they stand for, a celebration of creativity, community, and unforgettable moments.

Ultimo is incredibly proud to be part of the Suited story. To contribute to the flavour, the craft, and the connection of a day that so many look forward to each year.

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Testimonials

We love our clients and they love us!

Best in the Biz

Just wanted to reach and out and say a hugeee thank you for the impeccable service and food Ultimo provided for our wedding on Friday at The Quarry. It was absolutely amazing and everyone raved about the food. Everyone was also stoked that there glasses were never empty- love it! The service was beyond perfect. But once again, thank you so much. Everything was A+. Please pass on our thanks to all involved. Best in the biz.

Mikayla + Sean

Wedding

West Australian Ballet

West Australian Ballet’s partnership with Ultimo Catering and Events began in 2003 and is one of the company’s longest standing associations. We are extremely fortunate to be able to rely on Ultimo for the finest food and service at our events and consistently receive wonderful feedback from our patrons. Ultimo’s generosity and long term commitment to supporting the arts is invaluable and West Australian Ballet looks forward to celebrating many more milestones with Ultimo

Andrea Parkyn

Sponsorship and Events Coordinator

Corporate Christmas Party

Eventing can be hard, but with Ultimo, we had no stresses! They took care of everything. From the initial information package, meeting with the event coordinator and through to the meet and greet on the day. It was easy, the staff were amazing, and the food and venue incredible! Thank you so much Ultimo, for making our annual Christmas party a joy. We look forward to working with you again!

Stevie McCormack

Perth Eye Hospital

Amazing & Attentive Service

I wanted to send a HUGE thank you specifically to yourself for all of the hard work organising our big day and to Tony for his amazing & attentive service on the night, plus to the whole team for putting together a seamless evening. I am so happy with how everything came together and I have had nothing but perfect compliments about the food, service & atmosphere on the night.

Mr & Mrs Sear

York Wedding

Wow factor

Our Christmas function was very successful and this had a lot to do with Ultimo and the marquee they organised at Ozone Reserve. They took care of the logistics, great food and drink package and supplied friendly staff. There certainly was a wow factor with the design and layout of the marquee. Clark was a delight to deal with and certainly made my job a lot easier! We would be very happy to recommend Ultimo and would have no hesitation in using Ultimo again, not only for Christmas functions but other events during the year.

Kaye Fraser-Rae

Executive Assistant, Sinclair Knight Mars

Perfect Wedding

Ultimo catered our wedding in April 2021 and what an amazing experience it was! The food was absolutely delicious, so generously portioned and all dietary’s perfectly catered for. Hollie our on-the-day coordinator was absolutely incredible! Hollie was so prompt in replying to my emails and was so well organised with meticulous attention to every detail. All the waitstaff were so attentive and polite. Could not recommend Ultimo highly enough, thank you all so much.

Jordan Langham

   

On Demand Catering

I have been a corporate business customer of Ultimo Catering for over 2 years now. Ultimo have always been extremely helpful and timely with their service. Ultimo are never late for delivery, and always happy to take on last minute orders, and changes at our request which is fantastic for us as we are usually extremely busy. I have recommended Ultimo to other professionals for their corporate events as the quality and service is always consistent and never disappoints.

Paris Ward

3DS

Covid Wedding Save

“We cannot thank the entire team at Ultimo enough for their incredible service. We were told it was going to be good, but we never expected how good! Our wedding venue was cancelled on us the night prior to our wedding due to Covid-19 restrictions being implemented (no fault of Ultimo’s). Ultimo assisted us in a short 12 hour period to completely relocate and redesign our wedding. To say it was executed flawlessly is an understatement. We were so so happy with their service and everything went perfectly on the night. From the setting-up, to the food served, to the drink service, to the pack down – it was all perfect. Huge thank you to the entire team, but an extra special thank you to Hollie – she was amazing throughout the entire experience. We cannot thank Ultimo enough and look forward to using them again for future events. Would recommend the team to anyone in a heartbeat! 

Kyle Moss

   

Speedy Response

I contacted Ultimo the week of my event and they very quickly got back to me and were able to do the catering. I was very pleased when the staff member arrived and set up everything. I didn’t have to do a thing :). The staff member was professional, helpful and a lovely person to boot. Many of my guests told me how good they thought the food was. Thanks Ultimo for your service and quality and attention to detail.

Deb Thompson

   

Never disappointed

Ultimo Catering is a favourite with our staff and clients. The On - Demand catering menu is top quality and always well presented. Attention to detail means our orders are delivered directly to our catering kitchen and sometimes even put into the fridge! Their two hour minimum order time makes catering for last minute meetings stress free. We know that if we order with Ultimo we have lots of yummy options and we will never be disappointed.”  

Danielle Barnard

The Brand Agency

Dream Wedding

Thank you to Ultimo Catering for helping to create our dream wedding.  Choosing to hold our wedding in a marquee at my parent’s home meant we had total control of the styling and ambiance of our wedding. Ultimo’s professional service made for a stress-free evening - we wanted it untroubled and relaxed and Ultimo’s expertise ensured every box was ticked. They were totally flexible - we basically made up a whole new menu – and the food was excellent quality.  We had a ball because we had our wedding exactly the way we wanted it.

Hannah and Antony Lalor

Marquee Wedding

Groovin' the Moo

I cannot recommend Ultimo Catering highly enough. I feel very fortunate to have finally found a catering company that understands and delivers a fantastic backstage catering experience. All artists and staff are wowed by the quality of food & service provided. I look forward to working with Ultimo Catering again next year on our national GTM tour.

Fernando Tellier Motti

Catering Manager | Groovin' the Moo

Corporate Xmas Party

We have used Ultimo for 2 years (3 years including this year hopefully!) for our corporate Christmas Party. Their events staff go above and beyond in the planning stages, then the onsite team on the night of the events have always been amazing. No request has ever been too big. They make the task of organising a large christmas party easier. Food and drinks have been delicious and the event space in always stunning!

Paige Brown

   

50th Birthday Party

I held an event on Saturday night at my home to celebrate my husband’s 50th birthday. The service I received from Vanessa was outstanding and she managed to put everything together with limited notice. She even did some work over the weekend and called me on Saturday during the day to ensure the hired equipment had arrived. On the evening, Tony, Nathaniel and the Chef were absolutely superb!! Their professionalism and customer attentiveness was first class and made my night so easy. The quality of your staff and catering product was noted by several of the guest who requested business cards from Tony for their own future events. I wanted to bring attention to the fabulous people you have at Ultimo - they are real assets to your business.

Lisa

   

Happy and very full

Thank you so much for all the help you gave me in the lead up to my event and especially when we had to reschedule due to lockdown; your help and support was truly appreciated ! Emails were always quickly responded to and whenever I called you were always available (such a rarity nowadays where people take days to get back to you). This is our first time using Ultimo and we look forward to using you again for future events. We were so pleased with everything and we cannot recommend you enough to our family and friends. All our guests left happy and very full and that’s really all we can hope and ask for when hosting an event.

Adam, Rebecca and Rose

   

Not all heroes wear capes

Peter and the team at Ultimo are amazing! Peter has been so supportive and someone you want in your corner when a pandemic interrupts your wedding plans. He went above and beyond helping us through what has been a very difficult and stressful time. The food is amazing and to cater to a full gluten-free menu for us was no trouble and always came with a positive can-do approach. As they have been in the industry for some time, their knowledge and connections to other suppliers has been invaluable. Thank you Peter for all your help and hope we will be able to engage Ultimo in the future

Melanie Hobday

   

Super Impressed

We were so impressed with your organisation and how calm you were the entire night. The marquee looked amazing and everything was perfect. We weren't called about any problems that may have occurred during the day and were so impressed. We have gotten so many comments about the quality of the food and how well the event was run - including some from those whose jobs are in event management. A few people described yourself and a 'tall blonde girl' who worked so hard during the night. Drinks were flowing endlessly. So well done. You even got a soft serve and brought it out mid speech. And helped so quickly when we wanted a champagne bottle AS WELL as last minute door prizes. So super impressed. Would recommend the team any day.

Ness & Paddy

Wedding

Professional & Quality

Ultimo has taken over all of The Rural Agricultural Society’s catering since 2000, including the Perth Royal Show. The level of professionalism and quality of food they have brought to our organisation has been excellent.  Their timely and friendly presentation of service has been exceptional over the years.  The RAS entertains a cross section of high-profile individuals  including foreign diplomats, politicians, the Governor of Western Australia and a selection of VIPs who have all commented on the quality of food and service provided.  I highly recommend Ultimo to organise any function or event, large or small.

Janice Davidson

Executive Assistant, The Royal Agricultural Society of Western Australia

On Demand Catering

Food was really good. Pretzels were a major hit as were the Chou Chous and the individual Salads. Food is always delivered on time and exceeds expectations. It is a pleasure to business with you guys!

Kristian Pereira

Gerflor Australasia

The food was exquisite

I organised to have Ultimo do the catering for my birthday party at home and they certainly delivered. I always got prompt responses from Vanessa who was very professional, approachable and patient. The staff who turned up on the day, Chef Lisa and Head Waitress Sophie were both very friendly, helpful and good at their job. Nothing was too much trouble. We had canapes which might as well have been a degustation experience. The food was exquisite and of good quality. The service was exceptional – something that is quite rare in Perth these days. Thanks to Ultimo, my evening was stress-free and elegant. My guests were impressed and I received so many comments about the delicious food. Thanks Ultimo! 

Marie Nankoo

   

Exceeded Expectations

Ultimo have been providing corporate catering services to our organisation and every experience has exceeded expectations. Fresh, healthy and tasty catering options with quality service from their function coordinators, chef team and service staff. Could not recommend them highly enough! 

Tania Papalia

   

Sandwiches were a hit

Thanks so much for Friday. The food was beautiful, plenty of it and on time. Normally sandwiches aren’t something guests rave about, but wow we had some outstanding comments! Several people also mentioned that we have raised the bar with this conference and that was due solely to the food provided. So, as far as feedback goes the whole thing was perfect. The young delivery man was extremely pleasant and went all out to do anything to help. Thanks again and will call on you for future events. All the best.

Cath

Belmay Primary School

Brand Advocate

We are all singing your praises this morning for the fantastic job that you and your team did for the Council Retreat catering.  We have had excellent feedback on the food presentation, staff friendliness and incredible service that you provided us over this momentous 3-day Council Retreat event.  Logistically, this event was extremely challenging and yet you made it all seem so effortless.  You worked quickly but so efficiently and effectively and with such incredible, meticulous attention to detail and because of you, this event was a great success. The catering and presentation of food is the best I have seen and I will certainly be a brand advocate for you.

Avril Schadendorf

   

Outside the box

I just wanted to say thankyou, for helping make Adrian’s night such a special and memorable one!   What a night! The feedback from everyone was that the food was sensational, especially the seafood station. Thankyou for the little extras that you thought of, it really did make for a unique occasion.  All of your staff were fabulous, and did a great job keeping up with the cocktail swilling party goers. Thanks again

Adrian Crooks 50th Extravaganza,

Fremantle Boatshed

You're just the best

I don’t actually have the words to express our thanks to you for everything you have done for us to make our day so magical. The amount of food, quality of food and service were absolutely raved about from our guests. There was absolutely no faulting anything on your end - our families were so incredibly happy. The effort you went to in securing the TV and organising the video to play for us was unbelievable. We were so shocked and happy and it was just the best. It definitely set the mood and tone of the night and something that we will appreciate forever. And just the many emails you responded to. Through a venue change and Covid postponement it was certainly much more of an effort and we so appreciate everything you did for us through all the changes. We simply could not have asked better service or experience with Ultimo. And please pass along our thanks to the rest of the team who worked Saturday night - they were all so great. You’re just the best, Hollie! So happy to have met you and thank you again for making our day so amazing!

Mitzi and Olly

   

Nothing was ever too much trouble

I just want to say a MASSIVE THANK YOU to the Ultimo Team for all your work in the lead up as well as on the night. I can not recommend the Ultimo company enough. Not only did you and the team make the organizing an absolute breeze, the detail and professionalism on the night by all staff was nothing short of superb! Nothing was ever too much trouble  - from taking care of the ticket sales and providing regular updates, to even extending the event on the night when the CEO made the request at 9:50pm (10 mins before it was meant to close)– even meeting the last minute request of having a lectern and stand alone mic for speeches!! The Ultimo customer service really is above and beyond. I had numerous emails flooding my inbox on Friday from staff raving about what a great night it was! The layout was fantastic for our size group (roughly 300ish I believe) as there was plenty of room to move without the place feeling empty. Both the drinks and food menus were fab – so many people made the comment of how fast the service was. We had a very challenging budget to work with, and what you were able to provide for that budget was absolutely incredible

Freya Barsby

Calibre Group

Total LORD of the hospitality industry

We just wanted to reach out and say a HUGE thank you for being a part of our special day. We loved every second of it. We received so many compliments on the food throughout the night. Everyone said it was delicious, there was plenty of it and the presentation was amazing. Thank you for being such a professional, such a legend and a total LORD of the hospitality industry.

Mr & Mrs Thomas

   

Food is some of the best in Perth

Ultimo Catering & Events are wonderful supporters of The Peet Op Shop Ball for Anglicare WA each year and we thank Peter and the ultimo team for their incredible generosity. Their food is some of the best in Perth and we couldn’t be more thankful for all their hard work and dedication to making it such a spectacular event.

Ian Craig

Anglicare

Magical Wedding

We had a magical wedding reception thanks to Ultimo!  We were blown away by the extraordinary food and super friendly service, it truly exceeded our expectations.  We were a bit daunted by designing the menu, but Clark understood what we wanted and he just led us toward a superb combination of flavours.  The staff went above and beyond for us and our guests and many have since commented on how impressed they were.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the best day of our lives.

Claire Naylor

Backyard Cocktail Wedding

Extremely Pleased

We have been using on-demand catering for a while now and are extremely pleased with the service that Ultimo provides. We receive positive comments from our members all the time on the delicious food and it just takes a few minutes to order online. The Deliverable Feasts are excellent with more than enough to feed everyone plus leftovers. I cannot recommend Ultimo highly enough!    

Heather Van Lendt

The State School Teachers' Union of W.A

Great food & service

I have to commend Ultimo on their great food and service. I specifically requested the afternoon to not be a sad time but more of a celebration, and that really filtered through on the day. From the staff’s friendly attitude to the venues they were able to recommend; all located 5 minutes from the cemetery, the wake couldn’t have run more smoothly. Thanks again

Adrian Paul

   

Flawless Performance

We were so impressed by you and the supporting team on the night. We did not have any issues, the food was exceptional and the service perfect, a flawless performance, you did an outstanding job and we are thrilled to have chosen Ultimo and lucky to have you as our event organiser. Thank you again!

Alex & Elanie

Wedding Catering

Always fresh

On Demand Catering is great alternative for in house meetings. There is a great range of choice that covers all dietary requirements. Always fresh and always delivered on time even with short notice. Staff love discovering what delights are in the boxes.

Lucille

DLA Piper

Corporate Event

Thank you for the event of Friday - it really was outstanding. I have had several people who attend lots of corporate events say to me that "That was the best event I have attended in at least the last 5 years" So thank you! The attention to detail of the whole day, from breakfast at registration to the superb lunch, the events themselves and finally the awards at the end was exemplary. Normally as the person who has signed the event off, I spend the day worrying if it will be a success, but this was one of those rare events when I could submerse myself in the day and enjoy it, knowing that you had everything covered. A brilliant day, one that shall be long talked about!

Richard

EventPod

Afternoon Delight

A note of THANKS to let you know that the catering for this afternoon tea was excellent. The choices for the selection of food both savoury and sweets was delightful and the team thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you once again.

Sheila Khandakar

Chevron

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