Top chefs from across the UK took over the kitchens of voco St David's in Cardiff Bay to raise over £150,000 for children’s hospice Tŷ Hafan.

Held every two years, Chefs' Night Out brings together a number of the country's finest chefs to cook a four-course menu per table with matched wines for 160 guests. Guests discovered which chef would be cooking their dinner at a special draw during the Taittinger reception. Chefs designed their menus exclusively for the night using local produce, matched with premium wines to accompany each course.

The impressive line-up of 16 chefs not only delivered their time and tasty delights free of charge but also offered their culinary services in an after-dinner auction. Generous diners bid for their favourite chef – with the prize being a dinner party for 10 at their own home cooked by the chef at a later date. Bids for individual chefs went for up to £20,000.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Tŷ Hafan is one of the UK’s leading paediatric palliative care charities, offering comfort and care to life limited children and their families throughout Wales.

It’s a charity very close to the hearts of organisers David Loosemore and Huw Edwards, who started Chefs’ Night Out back in 2010 to raise funds for the children’s hospice and the support it provides for the families who need it.  The total raised to date from the Chefs’ Night Out series is nearly £800,000.

David Loosemore said:

“Raising the record amount this year of over £150,000 for such a worthwhile cause as Tŷ Hafan is both an inspiring and humbling experience.

“We are so grateful to the generosity of our guests, our chefs and all the helpers involved. The Chefs’ Night Out family continues to grow and we hope to host many more dinners in the future.”

Huw Edwards added:

“We couldn’t raise this amount money without the generosity of the chefs, restaurants and their suppliers in giving not only their time but also all of their produce and wine for free. It really does make the whole event succeed.”

Sara Webber, Associate Director at Tŷ Hafan, said:

“A huge thank you to David and Huw who, through their dedication and commitment, have raised a staggering amount of money for Tŷ Hafan”.

“It costs over £4million each year to run our hospice, delivering our broad community programmes and providing round the clock specialist care 365 days a year.  But we simply couldn’t provide our lifeline services to the families that need them so much without the fabulous fundraising efforts of people like David and Huw, the chefs who so kindly donated their time and skills and, of course, everyone  who took part in the evening and gave so generously”.

The stellar line-up of chefs included: Stephen Terry – The Hardwick; Tomos Parry – Brat; Sue Manson – Y Polyn; Tom Furlong and Gwyn Myring – Milkwood; Allister Barsby – The Grove; Hrishikesh Desai – Hrishi; Sian Wyn Owen – The River Café; Tom Simmons – Tom Simmons; Roger Jones – The Harrow at Little Bedwyn; Ludo Dieumegard – Harbourmaster; David Kelman – Cowley Manor; Mark Jordan – Mark Jordan at the Beach; Tom Hine – Coast Restaurant; Richard Davies – Calcot Manor; Hywel Griffith – Beach House, Oxwich; Andrew Birch – Lainston House