Restaurateurs, chefs, food suppliers and the hospitality sector across the North East came together to raise awareness of mental health.
Terry Laybournes 21 Hospitality Group recently organised and hosted a sector-wide evening of entertainment and five-course dinner to raise money to help combat mental health.
The special event received generous support from many suppliers to 21 Hospitality Group. Guests included chefs, owners and staff from some of the leading restaurants and hotels in Newcastle and wider North East region.
More than £10,000 was raised for mental health charity Mind North East from Bobbys Dinner held at 21 restaurant on Newcastles Quayside.
Terry Laybourne said: Mental health is very topical across our sector right now; many people are talking about the challenges of working in high-pressured jobs; we decided to do something about it and were overwhelmed by the response.
Nick Shottel, operations director at 21 Hospitality Group, explained that the idea for the dinner was prompted when he and Terry heard about the fundraising activities of one of their young chefs, Bobby Smail, who lost his brother to suicide in 2017.
He said: Bobby has been fundraising for Mind to raise awareness of mental illness. We were keen to help raise funds to assist people in overcoming mental illness, which sadly, is so prevalent in our industry.
www.tynesidemind.org.uk