Event Timings

6.00 pm	Drinks and Canapé Reception
6.45 pm	Welcome by Arena Chairman. Introduction to Only A Pavement Away by Greg Mangham, Founder
7.00 pm	Dinner
8.45 pm	Interview with Tom Aikens by Simon Young, Executive Chef, The Rosewood plus audience Q&A
9.30 pm	Closing Speeches
9.45 pm	Carriages

The Event

An Audience with Tom Aikens in partnership with Only A Pavement Away

On the evening of Monday 22 January 2024 over 200 hospitality and foodservice professionals will gather at the stunning 5* Rosewood London for Arena’s ‘Audience with Tom Aikens’.  Following a drinks and canape reception and mouth-watering three-course dinner with wine experience, guests will enjoy an inspiring and intimate insight into Tom Aiken’s motivations and aspirations in an exclusive interview with The Rosewood’s Executive Chef, Simon Young. 

Tom - who is the Patron of Only A Pavement Away, will share the life events, opportunities and challenges that have shaped his phenomenal career, bringing them to life with entertaining anecdotal stories. Tom will also share his thoughts on the latest industry hot topics, his work with Only A Pavement Away and what the future may look like.

Arena will donate 20% of all ticket sales to Only A Pavement Away and throughout the evening, there will also be fundraising activities to raise much-needed funds for the charity.

Only A Pavement Away

Only A Pavement Away’s purpose is to provide pathways out of homelessness and crime into purposeful employment within the hospitality industry. Over the next six years, it is estimated that there will be around 1.3 million vacancies in the sector. At the same time, the number of people who are facing or are at risk of becoming homeless, is rising. 

Only A Pavement Away facilitate training & development and offer financial support to anyone facing homelessness, leaving prison or the armed forces who need support to overcome barriers to employment. Since 2022, the charity have supported 200 people gain pre-employment skills and confidence. The project is underpinned by a strong commercial & financial benefit to the hospitality industry whilst reducing the ever-increasing strain on government funding required to support those who find themselves in extreme and vulnerable circumstances. Since launching in 2018, the charity have helped place 1600 Members into work and another 413 have gained employment adding almost c£11 million back to the economy.

With a solid foundation Only A Pavement Away are now recognised as the ‘go to’ charity for the employment of those facing homelessness, prison leavers and vulnerable veterans into careers within the hospitality industry and forging connections in some of the key major cities and regions across the country. They have over 150 hospitality businesses signed up to the programme alongside 199 referral charities all of whom have work ready candidates eager to start new careers in hospitality. 

CLICK HERE TO SEE HOW ONLY A PAVEMENT AWAY IS MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE TO PEOPLE'S LIVES

 

Meet Tom Aikens

Tom Aikens is one of the UK’s most acclaimed and inspirational British chefs and also the Patron of Only A Pavement Away.  Growing up in Norfolk, with a father working in the wine industry and a childhood spent gardening and cooking with his mother, Tom learnt how to make use of the freshest ingredients, putting food at the centre of his life from a very early age. As a child, Tom and his twin brother Rob would help their mother in the kitchen with the preparation of cakes, biscuits, jams, chutneys and home cooked meals, using fresh vegetables picked from their garden.

He began his career at Michelin-starred Cavalier’s in Battersea, London. He then moved onto The Capital Hotel working under Philip Britten, followed by a chef-de-partie position with Pierre Koffmann at La Tante Claire at a time when the restaurant was awarded with its third Michelin star. Tom later worked for Joel Robuchon in Paris, Gérard Boyer in Reims and Pied-à-Terre to name a few. It was in Pied-à-Terre that Tom became the youngest British chef ever to be awarded two Michelin stars, aged just 26. 

 In 2000, Tom decided to take some time out of the restaurant kitchen and immerse himself in the world of farming but after three years of farm life, Tom was keen to get back into a kitchen again and went on to open his immensely successful eponymous restaurant, Tom Aikens, which won a Michelin star and rising 2 star in 2009. 

Having worked with Nick Jones of Soho House and launching three restaurant concepts in Abu Dhabi Tom opened Muse in 2020 - a cosy 25-seater renovated mews house in the heart of Belgravia.  Muse opened with critical acclaim and rave reviews quoting “a menu of pure genius.” The first Michelin star was won in January 2021, despite having only being open for just 7 months in 2020 due to various lockdowns. Muse has won multiple awards such as The Hardens London Restaurant Award for “Best Gastronomic Experience” in September 2021, as well as London’s “Best Restaurant Design” at the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards in October 2021. 

Charity and Support Work

In 2012, Tom was proud to become a fundraising ambassador for the British Olympic Games, donated his services several times to produce huge banquets.  At the largest fundraising event, The Olympic Golden Ball at Earl’s Court, Tom curated the menu, leading the team to cook for 2,500 guests and was then awarded with the incredible opportunity of being a torch bearer for the London Olympics that year.

As patron of OAPA, Tom and OAPA launched a social media cookery campaign during the first national lockdown. The aim was to cook a recipe in 5 minutes, donate £5 and nominate 5 others to take part, in aid of raising vital funds for the charity. Due to the success of the campaign, Tom and OAPA have been working on a new charity cookbook that will celebrate the recipes submitted by both celebrity chefs and recipes of the general public.

Tom is also a regular veteran judge on Great British Menu and Great British Bake Off’s “The Extra Slice”

 

Meet Simon Young

 

Simon Young has over 25 years’ experience in the hospitality industry.  Growing up in Sussex, Simon knew from the age of 15 that he wanted to be a chef.  After working in various South Coast hotels he moved to London and worked in a number of hotels including The Inn On The Park (now the Four Seasons Hotel) the Royal Garden and the luxurious Dorchester as Premier Sous Chef.

Following a stint in Ontario, Canada, Simon returned to the UK.  He took up a position as Head Chef at Harrods and then became part of the opening team at the Great Eastern hotel. Following this and at the age of 36 Simon was appointed Executive Chef of the Jumeirah Carlton Tower overseeing the entire culinary division – a position he held for 16 years.

In 2019 Simon then became Executive Chef at Rosewood London overseeing the luxury hotel’s kitchens and restaurants including the popular Scarfes Bar and elegant Mirror Room

Well-established within the hospitality sector, Simon boasts a number of esteemed accolades attached to his name, including Hotel Cateys Chef of the Year and Craft Guild of Chefs’ Banqueting Chef of the Year.

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Event Bookings Terms and Conditions: 

​For bookings cancelled 28 days or more before the event, a full monetary refund will be given. For bookings cancelled between 21 and 28 days prior to the event, a credit against a future event will be given. No refunds or credits will be given less than 21 days before an event. No refunds or credits will be given for non-attendance of the event​.