Action Against Hunger UK’s flagship fundraising event, the Fine Wine and Art Dinner, marked its 18th year on Saturday, 23 November 2024, at London’s 1 Lombard Street. This year’s event raised over £300,000 to support the organisation’s vital work in predicting, preventing, and treating life-threatening hunger and malnutrition across more than 50 countries. Founded in 2005 by food writer Bill Knott and hotelier Robin Hutson, the event has become a cornerstone of Action Against Hunger UK’s fundraising efforts and its goal to create a world free from hunger.
Nearly 200 guests were treated to an evening of exceptional cuisine and fine wine. A line-up of acclaimed chefs showcased the very best of the British culinary scene, including Max Coen (Dorian, Notting Hill), James Ferguson (Kinneuchar Inn, Fife), Sarah Hayward (The Coach, Marlow), James Holden (1 Lombard Street), and Ashley Palmer-Watts (The Devonshire, Soho). Each course was expertly paired with wines curated by David Gleave, chairman of Liberty Wines.
The evening was hosted by the award-winning TV chef and BBC’s Great British Menu presenter, Andi Oliver, and began with a Taittinger Champagne Reception, where guests enjoyed a selection of exquisite canapés by James Holden.
Guests participated in live and silent auctions, which included a variety of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, luxury travel packages, and fine art pieces. Action Against Hunger ambassador and Fine Wine and Art committee member Angela Hartnett made a pledge to support the organisation’s work, which raised almost £25,000.
Proceeds from the evening will support Action Against Hunger’s goal of ensuring that every child and adult around the world has access to sufficient nutritious food and clean water, and that no child dies from hunger. In 2023, the organisation supported 23 million people – saving, improving, and protecting lives by eliminating the immediate, underlying, and root causes of hunger.
“Hunger is one of the most urgent challenges of our time, with at least one in every 11 globally facing hunger today. Alarmingly, in 2023, only 35% of appeals from countries experiencing crisis levels of hunger were met. Fundraising events like the Fine Wine and Art Dinner play an important role in helping us close this gap, and the generosity shown on Saturday night will help to fund vital programmes that prevent and treat life-threatening hunger and implement sustainable, long-term solutions,” said Will Macleod, Action Against Hunger UK’s Fundraising and Communications Director.
Hunger is one of the world’s most pressing challenges, affecting 783 million people globally. Chronic inequality, conflict, and climate shocks continue to be the leading drivers of this global crisis. Action Against Hunger works tirelessly to combat hunger, providing life-saving food, clean water, and sustainable solutions to the communities that need them most.
Notes to editors
- High-resolution images from the Fine Wine and Art Dinner are available for download here.
- Action Against Hunger is the world’s leading charity stopping life-threatening hunger in its tracks. By training parents and healthcare workers to spot the signs, we get life-saving care to people who need it. Action Against Hunger’s research drives forward understanding of how to predict, prevent and treat life-threatening hunger. With unbeatable knowledge and unstoppable determination, the charity supported more than 28 million people in over 50 countries in 2023.