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Heartwood Collection has raised more than £10,000 for hospitality charity Only A Pavement Away through a fundraising dinner hosted by Raymond Blanc at Brasserie Blanc Beaconsfield.
The event, held on Wednesday 21 October 2026, welcomed approximately 100 guests for an evening of seasonal French cooking and fundraising activities, including a silent auction.
The proceeds will contribute towards Heartwood Collection’s annual fundraising target of £25,000 for Only A Pavement Away, which supports people facing homelessness, prison leavers and veterans into employment within the hospitality industry.
Guests enjoyed a four-course menu developed by Raymond Blanc alongside Heartwood Collection’s food development team.
The menu featured heritage beetroot salad with horseradish crème fraîche, grilled Devon scallops with cep purée, roast mallard with leg confit and truffled celeriac, followed by Comice pear amandine with lime caramel.
The dinner brought together chefs from across the Brasserie Blanc estate, working alongside the Beaconsfield restaurant’s front-of-house team, led by General Manager Ben Gaudicheau.
Raymond Blanc said:
“A kitchen is a place where anyone with passion and dedication can learn, grow and find their place. To share an evening of good food with so many generous guests, all in support of Only A Pavement Away, was a real joy. Thank you to everyone who came and gave so warmly.”
Founded in 2018, Only A Pavement Away works with hospitality employers and referral partners to create employment opportunities for people who face barriers to entering the workforce.
The charity provides support with training, recruitment and career development, helping individuals secure and sustain employment in restaurants, pubs, hotels and other hospitality businesses.
Its programmes include Passport 2 Employment, which provides practical experience and employability training to help participants prepare for careers within the sector.
Richard Ferrier, Chief Executive Officer of Heartwood Collection, said:
“Hospitality has always been about people, and Only A Pavement Away shows just how much of a difference our industry can make when it pulls together. I’m immensely proud of our teams, who designed, cooked and served such a beautiful evening, and extremely grateful to every guest and supporter who gave so generously. The amount we raised takes us a big step closer to our fundraising for the year.”
Heartwood Collection operates the Brasserie Blanc restaurant group alongside its Heartwood Inns pub estate, with charitable activities taking place across both businesses.
The Beaconsfield dinner forms part of its ongoing partnership with Only A Pavement Away, with additional fundraising planned across the company’s restaurants and pubs.
The group is aiming to reach its £25,000 annual fundraising target through further activities involving employees, customers and business partners.
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