Devils in the Kitchen!

York bank staff and solicitors went head-to-head in the kitchen to help raise more than 3,000 for charity.

A team from Lloyds Bank and another from Crombie Wilkinson Solicitors battled it out in a culinary competition event, known as Devil’s Kitchen, at York’s Park Inn by Radisson on November 27.

They created a dining experience with a difference to raise 3,040 for three charities - the Hull and East Yorkshire (HEY) Smile Foundation, a collaborative charity which supports smaller charities and community projects, St Leonard’s Hospice, which provides specialist palliative care and support for local people with life-threatening illnesses, and SASH, which prevents vulnerable young people from becoming homeless.

Eighty diners, which included clients, colleagues and local professionals, watched the teams’ efforts live on a screen as they competed against the clock to prepare starters, main courses and desserts, with scores awarded by the corporate guests.

The competition was a close one, with the Lloyds team winning the competition by just one point.

David Streather, Lloyds Bank's SME Banking’s Senior Manager in York, said: “The whole team really enjoyed the challenge. The evening has built personal relationships and showcased Lloyds Bank’s commitment to the community and local charities.”

To date, more than 3,000 guests have dined at a Devil’s Kitchen event, which was created by the Smile Foundation and has now spread nationally, with cities including Newcastle, York, Sheffield, Liverpool, Glasgow and Manchester embracing the idea.

Duncan Morter, Managing Director at Crombie Wilkinson, said: “Not only does the event raise money for local charities but it’s also a great team building exercise which strengthens the relationships between staff members.

“It was a fantastic evening, and I would highly recommend the event to anyone who might be interested in the future.”

Helen Wise, Devil’s Kitchen development manager, said the fundraising event is going from strength-to-strength as businesses across the region, as well as the country, support the concept and have fun while raising money for charity.
 
She said: “We want to say a huge thank you to both the Crombie Wilkinson Solicitors and Lloyds Bank teams for taking part in Devil’s Kitchen.

“We thoroughly enjoyed it, were very impressed with the event and are very grateful for the money raised for charity on the night.

“We’d also like to thank the Park Inn by Radisson for their hospitality. Everyone really embraced the Devil’s Kitchen concept and gave it their all, which was great to see.”
 
For more information about Devil’s Kitchen, visit www.devils-kitchen.co.uk