Blog. De Vere raises £100k for charity partners at inaugural Gala Dinner.
September 01, 2025 | Author Sophie Dodsworth
De Vere, a collection of historic mansion house estates and distinctive contemporary hotels and event destinations, has raised over £100,000 for its charity partners, including Hospitality Action, at its first Charity Gala Dinner, held in July at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden.
The midsummer-themed balled welcomed 400 guests to the venue’s iconic Grand Hall, where attendees enjoyed sumptuous food, expertly curated wines and memorable entertainment. Funds were raised in support of three charities, Hospitality Action, the British Heart Foundation and the Willow Foundation.
The auction featured a range of exclusive experiences and items available for guests to bid on. The top prize of the night was a sculpture by world-renowned artist Ed Elliott, which was successfully auctioned for £6,000. Ed Elliott has partnered with De Vere to create an exclusive solo exhibition at De Vere Tortworth Court, which is now currently on show at De Vere Beaumont Estate in Old Windsor.
Our CEO Mark Lewis said:
“Not only was De Vere’s first annual Charity Gala Dinner a spectacular evening, but the funds raised will go towards transforming the lives of hospitality workers who have fallen on hard times. At Hospitality Action, we are there to wrap our arms around those in our industry facing hardship. We support hospitality workers facing mental health issues, financial worries, addiction and more.
The funds raised through this event will enable us to continue our important work and support with the essential items we all take for granted - whether that be providing a washing machine to a struggling family or helping get a young person out of rental arrears. De Vere’s charitable nomination is nothing short of admirable, and we look forward to continuing this partnership into the future.”
Laurie Nicol and Alan Corlett, Co-CEOs at De Vere, also commented: “We are incredibly proud of the success of our inaugural Charity Gala Dinner. Raising over £100,000 for these outstanding charities is a remarkable achievement, and we are so thankful to our guests, team and partners who made the night possible. The evening was more than just a gala, it was a celebration of purpose, generosity, and community, reflecting our shared belief that business should be a force for good for our guests, our people, and our planet.”
We’re incredibly grateful to everyone at De Vere for working so hard to make this unique evening possible. If your workplace would like to create the same kind of impact, we’d love to hear from you, please get in touch.
