Blog. Bike to Care raises £150,000!

On Wednesday 28 May, we had the pleasure of welcoming nearly 200 guests to the stunning Nobu Hotel London Portman Square for a truly special occasion – a celebratory dinner in honour of the incredible team set to take on the Bike to Care cycling challenge next month in support of HA.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of everyone involved, the evening raised an outstanding £150,000 to provide a lifeline hospitality people in crisis. 

Alternating each year between Burgundy and Bordeaux, Bike to Care is an annual event that has raised almost a million euros in four years for essential causes and uniting enthusiasts of shared values around the globe. 

The Bike to Care Chefs’ Dinner brought together friends and supporters from across the hospitality industry for a night of exquisite food, fine wines and heartfelt generosity – all for a good cause.  

The evening’s menu was crafted and delivered by a brigade of culinary talent, including Shaun Rankin (starter) of Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall, Michael Paul (fish course) of Nobu Hotel London Portman Square, André Garrett (main course), and Phil Howard (dessert) of Elystan Street. We thank them all for donating their time and skills such an important cause. 

The meal began with a delicate starter of crab, kohlrabi, celery, and burnt lettuce – kindly sponsored by Hodgson Fish. This was followed by a fish course of black cod miso, with thanks to Reach Food Group and Classic Fine Foods for their generous support.  

For the main event, guests enjoyed a slow-cooked fillet of beef served with Charlotte potato boulangère, Portwood green asparagus, truffle purée and sauce bordelaise, generously sponsored by Classic Fine Foods, The Ethical Butcher, Hatch Mansfield and Le Marché. The feast concluded with a vanilla cream dessert served in a soup of Kentish strawberries and Champagne Taittinger, with special thanks to Hatch Mansfield, Thornicrofts and Wellocks for sponsoring this dish.  

The night wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors, including American Express, our Gold Sponsor, and Caterer.com, our Silver Sponsor. Their ongoing commitment to Hospitality Action is something we are incredibly thankful for. 

We were also delighted to be joined by Mark Calver, Director at Hatch Mansfield, who gave so much time and energy to help make this dinner a reality. Hatch Mansfield’s support in supplying all the beverages for the evening was also deeply appreciated. 

We are deeply grateful to General Manager Grant Campbell and the team at Nobu Hotel London Portman Square for their service throughout the evening. Grant will join the team of 12 cyclists taking part in this June’s Bike to Care challenge, including: 

We wish this inspirational team the very best as they pedal for a cause close to all our hearts. 

Part of the incredible £150,000 raised came from supporters beyond the dinner. Richard Ball, MD of Calcot Manor and Spa, is cycling 1,000 miles from Bristol to Mallorca, climbing more than the height of Everest to raise funds for HA – an extraordinary show of endurance and generosity. Support his ride here. 

We're also grateful to Green Close Hotels for supporting our fundraising through a £1 opt-in donation added to guest bills across their properties - this initiative made a valuable contribution to the evening’s total. 

Finally, a sincere thank you to everyone who attended. Your presence and generous contributions are helping us continue our vital work, providing financial and emotional support to hospitality people who have fallen on hard times. Hospitality Action looks forward to welcoming you back next time.