Last week saw the beginning of the 2013 Great Bath Feast, with a special Michelin-starred banquet being held in Bath Abbey.
Bath Abbey was transformed into Bath’s most majestic restaurant as three Michelin-starred chefs cooked a banquet for more than 100 people to mark the start of the month-long Great Bath Feast 2013.
The great Abbey doors were thrown open, the bells were ringing and everyone knew they were arriving for a very special occasion, celebrating the start of a city wide collaboration to highlight Bath’s outstanding hospitality businesses.
The one-night-only event saw the Abbey as never before – with a long, beautifully decorated table with flowers, vegetables and fruits of the harvest, set between the choir stalls.
On arrival guest were served canapés and Champagne Jacquart, followed by a three course menu prepared in a temporary kitchen by Chris Staines (Head Chef, The Allium Brasserie at the Abbey Hotel), Sam Moody (Executive Chef, The Bath Priory Hotel and Restaurant) and Hywel Jones (Executive Chef, Lucknam Park). Richard Bertinet of The Bertinet Bakery donated the focaccia, and Great Western Wine selected the wines.
Hywel Jones, Executive Chef Lucknam Park said: “I’m delighted that last night’s event was such a success. Breath taking is probably the only word I can think of to describe the venue. It was brilliant to work alongside Sam and Chris and given the logistical challenges we faced I thought the evening ran like clockwork. I was especially impressed with the students from City of Bath College and I’m sure that with youngsters like that entering our industry, we will enjoy many more ‘Great Bath Feasts’ in future years.”
Nick Brooks-Sykes, Chief Executive of Bath Tourism Plus said: “This is unlike any other food festival model and provides a platform for restaurants and food businesses within the city to promote their own events. By working together we have created a new type of food festivals which supports the restaurants and highlights the strength of what we have on offer in Bath.”
Catering and hospitality students from City of Bath College helped with the preparation and the service and local producers ensured that the feast was kept local.
The banquet was an immediate sell-out with all profits going to Bath Abbey’s nominated charities Fareshare, a national UK charity with centres in Bath and Bristol, which supports communities to relieve food and the TEAR Fund, providing food for the poorest in Zambia.
The Great Bath Feast, organised by Bath Tourism Plus in partnership with The Bath Business Improvement District, runs throughout October with a daily line up of foodie events created by restaurants and food and drink businesses in the city. For details visit www.greatbathfeast.co.uk
Andrew Cooper, Bath BID Manager said: “The Bath Business Improvement District works to promote the city through exciting events and the Great Bath Feast is a practical way for businesses to engage. We should be proud of the quality and diversity of the hospitality industry in Bath and talk about it regionally and nationally to drive customers to the city.”
