Claygate’s Devil’s Kitchen 2023 – Spectacular Event Raising Over £82,000 for Demelza Childrens Charity in Kent
S
ome of you may remember Claygate’s last Devil’s Kitchen event in 2016, during which we raised an impressive £126,000 in support of Demelza Hospice for Children, a Kent-based charity. Just a little over a year ago, Clare from Demelza persuaded Mel Streek (Director of Claygate) to embark on this challenge once more. Claygate assembled the charity team and enlisted the invaluable support of Richard and Leslie from Balfour Winery, who suggested utilising their remarkable venue at the Hush Heath Estate, conveniently located just around the corner from Claygate’s Marden Depot.
The evening was a culinary extravaganza, where members of the original Dirty Dozen charity team collaborated with renowned professional chef Will Devlin of the Small Holding and our old friend Alex Tang, along with the Hush Heath chefs, to create an extraordinary meal for 200 guests. The event showcased the power of teamwork and passion for a good cause, as talented chefs guided the charity team through the creation of an amazing multi-course Asian inspired meal. One of the highlights of the evening was the captivating auction led by none other than Raj Bisram, renowned for his appearances on the BBC’s Antique Roadshow, Bargain Hunt and many more. Raj’s charisma and wit added a special touch to the event as he presented an array of remarkable prizes generously donated by supporters of Demelza Hospice for Children. The auction featured unique experiences, beautiful
artwork and exclusive memorabilia, driving a bidding frenzy amongst the guests.
Overall, the evening was a true celebration of the spirit of giving and the importance of coming together to make a difference.
Mel, reflected on the revival of Devil’s Kitchen in 2023 - “The last event in 2016, we raised an impressive £126,000 for Demelza. At the time, I vowed never to do it again. However, when Demelza approached me last year, I found it impossible to decline and the revival of Devil’s Kitchen 2023 with the theme “Never Say Never” was reborn.
Hearing the personal stories on the night from affected families and the heartfelt words from Demelza’s staff made it evident what an incredible job Demelza do for children and their families. This reinforced my belief that it was the right thing to do. An event like this is not easy to pull off, it couldn’t be done without the substantial effort from a lot of volunteers. But I have immense pride
in our achievement. Raising £82,000 is a significant accomplishment in today’s world, and it remains vital for the organisation. I also hope that our efforts have heightened awareness about Demelza’s crucial mission.
We are Demelza we deliver extraordinary care to extraordinary children facing serious or life-limiting conditions. We’re here to support them and their families from first diagnosis and for as long as we’re needed.
BKU NOVEMBER 2023
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