After Covid lockdown forced the cancellation of the 2020 event, we welcomed back into our calendar our yearly celebration of our Business Partners, in the form of our traditional lunch.

This is where we get the chance to thank our Business Partners for all their hard work and support over the previous 12 months, the chance to review what has happened since we last all met up, and the chance to tell them about our plans for the future.

Having been in the City Livery Halls for the past few years, this time we took the lunch from within the square mile, and out to the bright and light expanse of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, where Guild vice chairman Mark Reynolds is also the executive chef.

Guild Chairman Matt Owens kicked off the event by speaking about the difficult situation the industry has been in, including issues such as a shortage of chefs, food supply and delivery problems and the general sense of uncertainty around business in general and hospitality in particular.

However, at the same time he was keen to deliver a positive message in that the Craft Guild had been at the forefront of a lot of activity to help chefs and delivering positive messages of support right through the last 18 months.

He added that the Craft Guild had not cancelled competitions, but had ‘thought outside the box’ to embrace the situation and find ways to deliver the events differently giving something for Chefs to strive towards and keep their spirits up. This he said had not gone unnoticed, and had been very well received.

Matt took this opportunity to introduce the very first Craft Guild promotional video, one that portrayed all that we are about, and showcased just why Chefs should join, learn, and benefit from the Craft Guild, all of whom where there agreed that the production was on the mark and relevant.

Then it was over to Mark, to do just what he does best - deliver an outstanding lunch. Everyone agreed that there was no disappointment on the score.

Guests had been earlier greeted on arrival with canapes, which acted as the first course, before moving on to Seaweed-cured Cornish Mackerel, this certainly showcased the great talent within the kitchen brigade.

This was, if anything, when they then followed by delivering Loin of Lumina Lamb with a Chicory Tart Tatin before finishing the lunch with a take on the ‘Jaffa Cake’, which in itself was something special.

A selection of cheeses helped round off the lunch, washed down with a great glass of port, and a selection of ‘homemade’ Ferrero Rocher.

All the Business Partners in attendance said they had thoroughly enjoyed the event, with many commenting that it was the best ever. They also took the opportunity to comment very positively on the ‘fantastic’ promotional video, a copy of which was sent out to everyone along with the annual Business Partners report so that they could see in more detail just what has been happening over the last 12 months.

The annual report is something that the Guild has not published for a while, but the leadership felt it offered a good chance to share electronically a ‘great snapshot’ of exactly what the Guild does.

If any Business Partners require a further copy of the report or another link to the promotional video, then please do email: [email protected].