Some of the most exciting chefs in Manchester (and beyond) assemble for one of the biggest events in the Manchester food scene calendar, all in support of the glorious Eat Well MCR.
The annual fundraiser – thrown in conjunction with the Northern Restaurant and Bar show – will be a rare chance to see this calibre of talent cooking side by side in one room, curated by Eat Well MCR co-founder chef Mary-Ellen McTague. Leading the kitchen on home turf is Alfonso Esposito, the Campanian-born head chef at Circolo Popolare, known for bold, Mediterranean-leaning Italian cooking served with serious flair.
This year’s line-up reads like a roll call of the UK’s most exciting kitchens. Ahmed Abdalla, recently seen on Great British Menu 2025 and now head chef at Legacy at The Grand in York, joins Roux Scholar Tom Barnes of Skof, awarded a Michelin Star in 2025. There’s also Chris Trundle of Climat and Jamie Pickles of Michelin Guide recommended Stow, known for his open-fire cooking.
From Winsome, the modern British MICHELIN-listed restaurant in Manchester, chef-patron Shaun Moffat and head chef Tom McManus will be bringing along their homely yet refined style, while Hector Henderson of Rochelle Canteen, the legendary Shoreditch institution, adds his signature stripped-back British cooking.
Natalia Ribbe, founder of Sète in Margate and Ladies of Restaurants, and recently named CODE Hospitality’s Woman of the Year 2025, joins the line-up too, alongside Paul Durand, chef-patron of Liverpool’s Manifest, featured in the MICHELIN Guide and National Restaurant Awards Top 100.
Also in the mix are Richard Carver, founder of Honest Crust Pizza and chef-patron of Proloco, Rich Shaples of Ramsbottom’s Loaf in Bakehouse, and Zosima Fulwell, aka Mama Z, whose Filipino-British pop-ups celebrate heritage through bold, joyful pan-Asian cooking.
Expect welcome drinks and canapés on arrival, followed by a multi-course dinner with pairings, plus music from Living Room Dance Club and DJ Lenny, all hosted by Emily Spowage. As ever, this is no formal fundraiser and more like a big, generous dinner party thrown by some of the best in the business.
More than that, every ticket sold directly supports Eat Well MCR’s work delivering chef-made meals to families in temporary accommodation, women in refuge, schools, food banks and others facing food insecurity across Greater Manchester. Each seat in the room translates into meals made with care and dignity for someone going through a difficult time.
Tickets tend to move quickly once the chef line-up is announced, and this year is unlikely to be any different.
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