Lake District Hotels is proud to announce the resounding success of their recent Kitchen Rivals charity event held at Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa, which raised an impressive £23,080 for three local charities: Carlisle Youth Zone, Keswick YouthServices, and Cumbria Community Foundation.
The event brought together teams from Armstrong Watson and Knights Solicitors,offering participants a behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of a busy hospitality business, while promoting collaboration and teamwork for a charitable cause. The competition saw the two teams race against each other to prepare and serve
a three-course meal to 90 invited guests.
As a first-time participant, Matthew Hutton, Business Services Director at Armstrong Watson, shares his experience:
“Taking part in the Kitchen Rivals charity event at Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa has provided
me with a unique insight into the inner workings of a busy hospitality business, and the
power of successful collaboration and teamwork.”
The event’s goal was to raise as much money as possible for the three local charities. Guests were asked to pay what they thought their meal was worth, adding an element of friendly competition. By the end of the night, over £17,000 was raised, which, along with match funding for the Community Foundation’s portion, brought the total to £23,080.
Matthew Hutton continued:
“As an accountant who specialises in the hospitality, food & drink, and leisure sectors, I was fascinated to see firsthand behind the scenes of such a fantastic local business. Ihad a brief taste of what it’s like to work in the sector itself. However, my main experience of a working kitchen comes from my slightly unhealthy obsession with
Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, which certainly added to my nerves!”
Throughout the event, participants were guided by the team at Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa, including Executive Head Chef Mark Harris and Bobby Fillingham, Head Chef of Skiddaw Hotel. The team provided invaluable advice, patience, and support as participants rotated through different kitchen tasks. This included a session with Lindon, the pastry chef, who taught the team to create a bright green sponge for dessert, and Alexa, who assisted with preparing the soufflé starter.
The preparation and service involved significant teamwork, with the Armstrong Watson team working in the kitchen and front-of-house to present a delicious meal. Dishes included twice-baked stilton and walnut cheese soufflé, turkey ballotine, and ‘the snowball’ dessert. Despite the challenges, the team successfully presented all 45
plates for each course and ensured the meal was served on time.
Matthew Hutton shared his conclusion from the evening:
“To our delight, the food went down a treat across the entire room, with full stomachs,
empty plates, and generous donations. As one of our guests kindly said, ‘who knew that
excellence in professional services could so seamlessly translate to hospitality.’”
Although Armstrong Watson emerged victorious in the competition, the real winners were the local charities, whose work will be supported by the funds raised. Guests also participated in a raffle and auction, further contributing to the total amount raised.
“While I can’t say I’m looking to swap my accountancy career for a culinary one, I now have a newfound respect for the professionalism, collaboration, and ability to succeed under pressure that those working in hospitality and food and drink exude.”
Lake District Hotels would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Armstrong Watson, Knights Solicitors, and the talented team at Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa for their crucial roles in making this event a success. Special thanks go to the guests whose generosity made a significant difference to the charities involved.
