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22nd February 2018

M Restaurants to host human trafficking fundraiser dinners

Written by: Katie Imms
M Restaurants is launching a limited-edition pop-up at its Victoria Street venue next month (March) to raise funds for human trafficking organisation, Not For Sale.

Supported by online booking site OpenTable, ‘M Is Not For Sale’ will see guests enjoy a champagne reception and five-course dinner created by group executive chef, Michael Reid, with 100% of the profits going to the charity.

 

The pop-up will take place during Women’s Empowerment Month (March) and hopes to raise funds for Not for Sale companies, including Amsterdam-based restaurant group, ‘Dignita’, who runs culinary training programmes to rehabilitate victims of exploitation or trafficking.

 

Martin Williams, owner of M Restaurants, explained: “Modern slavery and sex trafficking is a silent cancer in our society, which is as prevalent in hospitality as any other sector – this is a London problem as well as a global problem.

 

“Professor David Batstone (founder of Not For Sale) is leading the fight against human trafficking by building self-sustaining businesses that feed profits into making dramatic and inspiring changes.

 

“At M, we have embraced a philanthropic culture since I founded the company in 2014, so it excites me hugely to support Not For Sale with a series of dinners, which will bring both awareness and funds to support the charity.

 

Professor Batstone added: “Not only does (Not For Sale) look for an alignment of values with our partners - foremost the respect for human dignity - but we seek out commercial innovators as well. We are known internationally for inventing new solutions, so we only partner with commercial disrupters who aim to redesign their own markets. Martin Williams and M Restaurant meet that criteria perfectly.”

 

Available from 19-24 and 26-29 March, the limited-edition menu costs £75 per person and draws inspiration form “some of the countries where Not For Sale projects have had the biggest impact,” including Peru, Vietnam, Thailand and USA.

 

A different celebrity will also ‘sponsor’ each night – donating raffle prizes and making an appearance – with rapper Tinie Tempah, BBC Radio presenter Simon Mayo and international rugby player, Simon Shaw, all currently signed up. Diners will automatically be entered into the raffle draw each night.

 

Batstone commented: “I am also delighted that we have a group of like-minded celebrities joining us for the (M Victoria Street) pop-up dinners and that our opening night particularly focuses on Women’s Empowerment Month.”

 

Chief executive of OpenTable, Christa Quarles, said: “(OpenTable) couldn’t be prouder to support this cause as the exclusive reservation partner for M is Not for Sale.

 

“At OpenTable, we are passionate about diversity and inclusion and supporting Women’s empowerment. Our business is all about bringing people together around the dining table, and to be able to do this in support of a global issue that effects our industry is incredibly important.”

 

‘M Is Not For Sale’ tickets can be reserved here: www.opentable.co.uk/misnotforsale.