It’s a magnificent thing – over one thousand people descending from the Forum on to the streets of Norwich like a horde of hungry wildebeests. Diving in every direction heading to their restaurants to feast on secret menus.
Lloyd Addisons annual Movable feast has been going for nearly two decades – I’ve been joining in for the last six. It’s a sell-out event every year with 1200 people in 2019, making an astonishing £27,500 in 2018 for Parkinson’s UK.
Lloyd was a Norfolk born and bred fella, first working in catering and then later in local politics. He ran a successful restaurant ‘Lloyds’ for 16 years on London Street with his wife Cynthia. In the late 80’s he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, sadly dying in 2008 but not before creating the Movable Feast his thriving legacy.
Tickets go on sale in March for the event in September and sell out within weeks. You send them a pre-paid stamped envelope with a cheque for £40 pp it’s a well-oiled machine with the idea to make as much as possible for this worthy charity – so no picking your restaurants, no receipts and no swapping!!!
Tickets are posted a week or so before the event – that’s when you find out what restaurants you’re going to, one per three courses.
Dozens of restaurants all over the city take part catering for up to 100 people or more depending on capacity – the event is always on a Tuesday evening.
Kicking off at the Forum at 6pm where you can enjoy a glass of bubbles sponsored by De’Arth catering. Cozen Hardy are the other main sponsor helping with the logistics of it all – – it’s a massive event to put on.
Then after the speeches – – GO
This year we had the starter in The Black Horse, Earlham Road ‘scallops on a lobster bisque’, The Georgian Town House for a main of Ox cheek, steak, shallot onion, red wine jus and samphire. Followed by dessert at The Roman Catholic Cathedral by the Brasteds team, a delicious Bakewell tart.
The other years all our restaurants have been in the middle of the city – We’ve been to East 24 (now closed), The Iron House, Haggle, The Dining Rooms at Cinema City, Farmyard and The Cellar. All the places taking part take great care in delivering a gorgeous menu, full of generosity and flavour. That might have something to do with the vote for the best restaurant – customers are asked to mark the score card attached to their tickets with a 1 – 10 mark. The usual menu format is 3 starters, 1 meat main, 1 fish and 1 veggie with a choice of 2 – 3 desserts with coffee and drinks paid on the night.
Plus, if that isn’t enough you can buy raffle tickets for a tenner a go – the prizes are amazing, including one of my cookery courses. A stay at Brasteds, afternoon teas, vouchers, bottles, meals and around 50 other goodies. Of course, I’ve never won anything despite my multiple purchases however our friends who come with us every year have won twice – – oh well!!!
So, if you fancy supporting this great charity and eating your way around the city or being one of the restaurants to join in – see all the contacts below.
And of course, if you are one of the restaurants taking part you get so much costs per meal, a full restaurant on a Tuesday night, profit on all the drinks, the huge accolade of taking part, massive amounts of advertising, the chance of repeat business and the worthiness of it all. Win Win I’d say.
http://www.moveablefeastnorwich.org
enquiries@moveablefeastnorwich.org
https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/events/lloyd-addisons-moveable-feast-norwich
Parkinson’s UK details – fundraising@parkinsons.org.uk
or call 020 7963 3954
By Zena Leech-Calton ©
It’s all about the food