LEADING HOSPITALITY ACTION SUPPORTERS GO “BACK TO THE FLOOR”

Industry charity Hospitality Action broke the mould on Friday 25^th January when it sent senior figures from the industry back to the floor for one night only. This special fundraising dinner, hosted at the five star Pennyhill Park Hotel in Surrey, raised £25,000 for those in need across the hospitality sector.  

The evening saw Danny Pecorelli of the Exclusive Hotels group, Philip Newman-Hall of Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons John Stauss of Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane, Richard Ball of Calcot Manor and Harry Murray of Lucknam Park amongst the star waiters who tested their silver service skills with a menu comprising notoriously tricky to servepeas, carrots and swede. The starter, including ginger foam served via an Espuma gun, was also a great test of their abilities.

Guest sommeliers included Mark Lewis, Editor of Caterer and Hotelkeeper, Simon Numphud of AA Hotel Services and Ufi Ibrahim of the British Hospitality Association, who also had their work cut out for them serving from magnums for the main course. Simon says: “What a fun event to be involved in! A truly unique service team line up resulting in a highly successful evening for 130 guests. There was a great atmosphere back of house as everyone pulled together for Hospitality Action.”

Lending support and a running commentary throughout the evening was Peter Hancock of Pride of Britain Hotels. Peter says: “This was a unique opportunity to see some of the UK’s leading hoteliers go back to their roots and use skills in which they have had little or no recent experience. Each of our guest waiters and sommeliers did a magnificent job and truly stepped up to the challenge on behalf of Hospitality Action.”

Penny Moore, chief executive of Hospitality Action, says: “Raising funds in January is always difficult as many are understandably feeling the financial strain after the festive season. The £25,000 raised tonight has kick started our 2013 fundraising efforts thus we are indebted to Danny Pecorelli, Philip Newman-Hall and Peter Hancock for making this possible. I am also extremely grateful to our waiters and sommeliers for giving up their time and demonstrating skills they never knew they had on our behalf.”

To find out more about Hospitality Action and how the charity makes a difference to the lives of the hospitality industry’s workers, please visit the charity’s website: www.hospitalityaction.org.uk