Variety hosts a sumptuous gastronomical feast to raise funds for children 

The highly-anticipated event, which made a spectacular return after a two-year hiatus, saw guests tucking into a lavish six course dinner while enjoying some top-class entertainment.

Held at the Biltmore Hotel in London on 28 June, the evening was hosted by award-winning comedian Greg Burns of Have I Got News For You and The Catherine Tate Show fame.

TikTok sea shanty sensation and BRIT Awards nominee Nathan Evans sang a rousing Variety version of his Wellerman hit, one of the top-selling singles of 2021. Children from the Chickenshed Community Choir joined him on stage with a delightful vocal accompaniment.

Adding to the entertainment line-up, multi-talented musician Julian Burdock got everyone’s feet tapping with his fabulous blues tunes.

Our wonderful Chair of Patrons, Michael Josephson, MBE, enjoyed meeting up with Nathan Evans and our Young Ambassador, Dante.

The Variety Gastronomic Evening is organised by a dedicated committee, who this year pulled out all the stops to ensure the occasion remains one of the most memorable, high profile and well-supported events in our fundraising calendar.

Jason-Lewis, a Variety former Chief Barker and Gastronomic Evening co-Chair, led a successful fundraising appeal on the night.

Huge thanks to all who attended and supported the event and to all those who dug deep to raise funds for our work with vulnerable children and young people.

Variety Shanty lyrics

There once was a babe on Christmas Eve

Left in a crib in a matinee seat

Pinned on her dress a note to read

Please help, my daughter, oh (huh)

Soon may Variety come

To bring the children some hope and fun

One day, when the helping’s done

There’ll be no more alone.

She’d not been born five weeks before

A brood of eight could take no more

Abandoned on the theatre floor

Alone, an orphan, girl (huh)

Da-da-da-da-da

Da-da-da-da-da-da-da

Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da

The theatre owners made her theirs

Pledged for ever to fund her care

But money came in from everywhere

There’s plenty left to share (huh)

Soon may Variety come

To bring all children some hope and fun

One day, when the helping’s done

There’ll be no more alone.

That’s how began Variety

The golden heart of this charity

Giving children opportunity

The chance to grow up whole (huh)

Soon may Variety come

To bring all children some hope and fun

One day, when the helping’s done

There’ll be no more alone.

Da-da-da-da-da

Da-da-da-da-da-da-da

Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da

For ninety years and even more

Variety’s worked on every shore

Four million lives been helped so far,

Its heart is filled with love (huh)

Soon may Variety come

To bring all children some hope and fun

One day, when the helping’s done

There’ll be no more alone.

And as we know, the fight’s still on

There’s more to give, the work’s not done

Variety makes its regular call

To encourage the donors, crew and all

Soon may Variety come

To bring all children some hope and fun

One day, when the helping’s done

There’ll be no more alone.

Soon may Variety come

To bring all children some hope and fun

One day, when the helping’s done

There’ll be no more alone.