The Art School Liverpool to host fundraising dinner for chef Matt Davies

Paul Askew and Tom Shepherd are among the chefs who will be cooking a fundraising dinner at the Art School in Liverpool in honour of Matt Davies later this month.

Chef Davies lost his dominant left arm after he suffered a 32-amp current during a lunch service back in 2017. Despite having over 70 operations, a serious infection resulted in his arm having to be amputated. He also had to have additional surgery this January, which meant the charity dinner had to be postponed.

Over the years, Davies has raised more than £100,000 for charities including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham who treated him, Fisher House and Hospitality Action.

The five-course fundraising dinner on 21 May will be prepared by chefs Tom Shepherd, Ellis Barrie, Simon Rimmer, Steven Doherty and the Art School’s chef patron, Paul Askew. Guests will also be able to enjoy music and drinks in the Art School Cellars following the evening’s proceedings.

The dinner will support both Elizabeth Hospital and industry charity Hospitality Action, which provides essential support for anyone working in hospitality affected by physical illness and mental health issues.

Davies said: “Being a chef is the only job I’ve ever wanted to do. After my accident I was devastated that my life had changed for ever and my career was taken from me. But in those dark hours, the solidarity shown to me by my fellow chefs and Hospitality Action kept me going. To have chefs who I’ve always regarded as friends cooking in my honour is humbling and incredibly special. It’s great news we are now able to hold this event in May in Liverpool.”

Askew added: “My connection with Matt was not long after Great British Menu in 2017. Matt had invited myself and Daniela Tucci to Stone as guest chefs for a fine-dining event he’d organised. But we arrived to find his team in utter dismay and were told that the tragic accident had happened the day before and Matt was seriously injured.

“Since then, Matt has been through countless operations and has had the support of Hospitality Action, whilst being an astounding fund-raiser himself for many good causes, including the hospital which treated him. He’s such a lovely person and we have been friends ever since, and Matt has the respect of the whole industry for his bravery and fund-raising efforts. So it’s with great pride we welcome Matt and Hospitality Action to The Art School for this very special event. We have wanted to make this happen for a long time – he’s been to our restaurant a few times as our guest, and we’re going to give him the warmest of welcomes on Thursday May 21st.”