Paul Ainsworth raises over £125,000 for Cornwall Air Ambulance at London dinner

Paul Ainsworth

Paul Ainsworth

Other 16th January 2020
Paul Ainsworth

Paul Ainsworth raises over £125,000 for Cornwall Air Ambulance at London dinner

Michelin-starred chef Paul Ainsworth hosted a Cornish-themed dinner in London this week to raise money for Cornwall Air Ambulance.

The chef, who is an ambassador for the New Heli Appeal, was joined by André Garrett, Executive Chef at Corinthia London, and their awarding-winning teams to create a three-course feast for diners showcasing stunning Cornish produce.

150 guests attended the gala dinner, held at Corinthia London, raising over £125,000 for the appeal to bring a new air ambulance helicopter to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Mr Ainsworth said: “It was a real pleasure to cook alongside André in such an amazing space, and I’m over the moon that such a large sum of money was raised for the Cornwall Air Ambulance. I was genuinely shocked and humbled that one guest paid £10,000 for me to cook a private dinner for 14 guests at her home! Emma and I are so proud to be ambassadors and the charity are doing incredible things for Cornwall. The reception to the food we served on the night was unbelievable and what a treat it was to see the finest Cornish produce leaving the pass on the night.”

Guests heard from Emma Ainsworth who gave a speech on the evening highlighting why the couple got involved with the New Heli Appeal. Cornwall Air Ambulance Critical Care Paramedic Steve Garvey also talked about the difference the new helicopter will make to the service his team can provide.

Following the meal, Brit-award winning singer Will Young provided entertainment for guests. The singer auctioned off a signed Charlie Bear along with four backstage passes to his concert, which fetched an incredible £8,000.

Other popular auction lots on the evening included a private commissioned portrait by Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year Duncan Shoosmith and Clubhouse tickets to the Six Nations 2020.
Bafta award-winning composer Ben Bartlett performed a piece of music he created especially for the charity, to celebrate the arrival of a new helicopter later this year.

Jackie Stanley, Appeal Board member and event organiser, said: “It was a hugely successful evening. Thank you to Paul Ainsworth, Will Young and Trevor Owen and Antony Rush at Corinthia London for giving their time and expertise freely to make it a night to remember.

“What an amazing legacy to know that through everyone’s combined effort and generosity we are a huge step closer to bringing a new generation helicopter to Cornwall, which will help to save many more lives. A huge thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

The charity would like to say a special thank you to all those who sponsored the event, including Platinum sponsors Specialist Aviation Services, Gold sponsors Leonardo Helicopters and Sharps Brewery who donated drinks for the event.

In these challenging times…

The Staff Canteen team are taking a different approach to keeping our website independent and delivering content free from commercial influence. Our Editorial team have a critical role to play in informing and supporting our audience in a balanced way. We would never put up a paywall and restrict access – The Staff Canteen is open to all and we want to keep bringing you the content you want; more from younger chefs, more on mental health, more tips and industry knowledge, more recipes and more videos. We need your support right now, more than ever, to keep The Staff Canteen active. Without your financial contributions this would not be possible.

Over the last 12 years, The Staff Canteen has built what has become the go-to platform for chefs and hospitality professionals. As members and visitors, your daily support has made The Staff Canteen what it is today. Our features and videos from the world’s biggest name chefs are something we are proud of. We have over 500,000 followers across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and other social channels, each connecting with chefs across the world. Our editorial and social media team are creating and delivering engaging content every day, to support you and the whole sector - we want to do more for you.

A single coffee is more than £2, a beer is £4.50 and a large glass of wine can be £6 or more.

Support The Staff Canteen from as little as £1 today. Thank you.