Trade charity Hospitality Action has raised a record-breaking £5k at its Christmas online auction, which ran for its 13th consecutive year.

Last year’s Christmas online auction raised £4,142 and, overall, they raised £1.5 million across the year, compared to total of £1.61m this year.

Prizes in this year’s online auction included a three-course lunchtime meal for two people at The River Café in London, a bottle of Champagne, and a cake created by Bidvest Foodservice and patisserie chef Thomas Leatherbarrow which was described as “one of a kind” by the charity.

Also on offer was an overnight stay with dinner and breakfast at The Coach House at Middleton Lodge, North Yorkshire.

Penny Moore, CEO of Hospitality Action, told British Baker she was delighted to have broken the charity’s online auction record.

“It’s a great way to finish a record-breaking year. This year we’ve raised £1.61m to help hospitality workers in need. We hope we can keep up our record-breaking ways,” she said.

“We are very grateful to all those who donated a prize, the media and all our supporters, who are always so generous with their gifts, publicity and bids – we couldn’t do it without them. We help everyone from chefs and bakers to housekeepers and these funds will ensure no one in need is left uncared for.”

All funds raised from the auction go to support those in need through the work of Hospitality Action, which offers support to people of all ages, working and retired, from the hospitality industry.

Established in 1837, Hospitality Action will be celebrating its 180th anniversary from next year.

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