Over 400 celebrities and guests celebrated the 14th Annual Gastronomic Evening with performances from Michael McIntyre and Urban Voices Collective at The Dorchester, Park Lane on Wednesday 8th June.

Pamela Sinclair, Chief Barker 2016, presented the Variety International Media Award to Richard Desmond, Chairman of The Northern and Shell Media Group, for his “huge support” of the charity for many years donating more than 26 Sunshine coaches. She also thanked OK! Magazine for substantial coverage of Variety events on a regular basis and personally acknowledged the work of Photographer and Social Editor, Mark Moody.

Variety also thanked Henry Brosi, Executive Chef, The Dorchester for his personal commitment to the charity and his creation of fabulous gastronomic menus each year for the Gastronomic Evening. He was appointed a Variety Ambassador and presented with a silver heart pin and silver framed certificate.

This year’s seven course menu was paired with wines carefully selected by Master of Wine, Conal Gregory.

Celebrity host, Gaby Roslin, presided over a very successful evening of fundraising and invited Variety’s Young Ambassador, Sam Acres (12 years), and his parents to join her on stage to share their story about how Variety helps disabled and disadvantaged children. Sam first met Variety when he was 7 years and continues to receive wheelchair equipment from Variety.

Lionel Rosenblatt, Chairman of the event was overwhelmed by the tremendous support from the guests and sponsors for this most successful of evenings, raising a record amount for the event of over £270,000. He thanked the Committee for their dedication in helping to create this outstanding result. One of the highlights of the fundraising was the live auction of a fabulous Abarth 595 Tourismo kindly donated by Abarth.