Programme

Fergus founded the St John restaurant in St John St, London. He is often noted for his use of offal and other neglected cuts of meat as a consequence of his philosophy of Nose To Tail Eating. As well as gaining critical acclaim for his cooking at St Johns he is also a published writer, his book Nose to Tail Eating: A Kind of British Cooking in which he provides recipes incorporating trotters, tripe, kidneys, chitterlings and other animal parts. Henderson also explains the philosophy behind his cooking explaining that "if you're going to kill the animal it seems only polite to use the whole thing". Nose to Tail Eating won the Andre Simon award for food writing. In 2007, he published the sequel, "Beyond Nose To Tail".

Chefs Anthony Bourdain and Mario Batali have both praised Henderson for his dishes, which optimise British food while making full use of the whole animal. St John was awarded a Michelin star in 2009.

Chris was born in the Durham during the war. He studied Chemistry, Maths & Physics at Grammar School and subsequently aborted a Science Degree after becoming too involved in University Rag activities!After a couple of years working in a laboratory he joined Odeon Cinemas as a trainee assistant manager. He was rapidly promoted to become General Manager of the Odeon Theatre in Edinburgh in the late sixties; in the meantime he had gained considerable experience in both leisure and catering management. Rank’s selected Chris to spend three months at Ashridge Management College in 1972 to be schooled for senior management, after which he spent a couple of years working in their London head office, followed by a period as Project Manager with responsibility for implementation of the first thirty Odeon multi-screen cinemas... Chris left Rank in 1976 for a new challenge as Entertainments and Conference Director at the Aviemore Centre in the Scottish Highlands. He moved on to become Director of Eden Court Theatre in Inverness from 1979 to 1984. Chris and his wife Ros Hunter bought Ramsbottom’s Village Restaurant in March 1985, and were recognised by the Good Food Guide as North West Newcomer of the year in 1986. Ros retired due to poor health in the late 1990’s.

Since that time Chris has gained many loyal followers, upset many others and received many accolades, including the prestigious ‘Which? Good Food Guide’ award as ‘Readers Restaurant of the Year’ in 2008...

Ben is the Managing Director and founder of hangingditch wine merchants. He has spent over 10 years in the wine industry starting with stints at Oddbins and Harvey Nichols as shop managers and latterly as an account manager at Pagendam Pratt Wine Cellars, Domaine Direct and Willoughby's Wine Warehouse.

Ben is a full panel judge for the International Wine & Spirit Competition and the International Wine Challenge. He was a UK semi-finalist for Ruinart Sommelier of the Year in 2004. He obtained his WSET Diploma in 2001 and holds and Art Foundation and BA in Graphic Design from Glasgow School of Art.

Lisa is a freelance food writer and editor based in the north west. Born and bred in Cumbria, her love affair with food started at an early age thanks to her parents - owners of multi award-winning Higginson's of Grange Butchers and Pie Makers. After 18 months living in Australia, she returned to England to train as a journalist and spent five years working in regional newspapers, including the Westmorland Gazette, Manchester Evening News Weekly Newspapers and Lancaster and Morecambe Citizen.
After taking the freelance leap to pursue her life-long ambition of food journalism, she began writing for leading food and drink website Taste of Manchester.com, of which she is now editor, and now also contributes food features and reviews to Pocket Manchester city guide and View Manchester.com. Lisa is also food writer at the Cumbria-based Westmorland Gazette and is acting editor of its Limited Edition magazine and Good Dining Guide.  
Her work has led to be appointed a member of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards panel and a judge for the Guild of Fine Foods Great Taste Awards.

Henrietta is widely acknowledged as the leading expert on British local and regional quality food, her enthusiasm coupled with guts, determination and commitment makes her the ideal champion.

Henrietta has won several awards including a Guild of Food Writers Award for the greatest contribution to British food, BBC Radio 4 Food Programme’s Campaigner and Educator 2000 and The Good Housekeeping Award 2006 for Outstanding Contribution to Food.

In her search for the best – whether a Place to Buy, Eat or Learn - Henrietta has criss-crossed Britain several times accompanied by her trusty dog. The results were first published in her award-winning British Food Finds in 1987 and then, during 1993, in her Food Lovers Guide to Britain. Now all Henrietta’s knowledge and expertise is online for you to enjoy at FoodLoversBritain.com .
 In March - April 2009, she featured as a judge on ITV's Taste The Nation in which regional teams from across the UK competed to be crowned winner.

Susan originated from San Francisco California but grew up in London, England. Susan is currently a research assistant at Bedfordshire University, working on a number of tourism and community development initiatives. Susan is currently developing the UK's first food tourism website. Her research interests include community based economic development through tourism. Susan has led a varied career including jobs with a number of local, state and national government agencies, such as the Department of Defence.

Loyd was born in Boston in 1950 and graduated from Boston University ( BA cum laude), the London School  of Economics ( M Sc Econ) and Magdalene College, Cambridge ( MPhil).

After starting a career in journalism with Harpers & Queen and the Sunday Times he was diverted into a television where as a writer, presenter or deviser he has been involved in a wide range of programmes.

Loyd's knowledge of and fascination with food led him to create his own brand in 1995, which became Britain's most successful new premium food brand.

His lifelong interest in history, the arts and heritage has involved him in a number of organisations. He is a former Commissioner of the Museums and Galleries Commission, a former Commissioner of English Heritage and of the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. He started the 24 Hour Museum ( now Culture 24) and was its Chairman until 2005.

In 2007 he was appointed Chairman of The Churches Conversation Trust, and in 2008 he became Chairman of the UK's newest university, the University for the Creative Arts. Loyd has recently been appointed Chairman of the Heritage Alliance which represents more than 75 non-governmental and voluntary organizations in the heritage sector. 

Nigel Haworth is the Head Chef and joint Managing Director at Northcote Manor. Born in Accrington, Lancashire he attended Accrington & Rossendale Catering College, before leaving to work five seasons, one in Gleneagles Scotland and four in Switerland. In March 1984 he began the challenging role of Head Chef at Northcote Manorand became joint Managing Director and 50% shareholder in 1989. Northcote was awarded a Michelin Star in January1996 and successfully retained this to present date, along with many other accolades and awards through his career. In 2009, Northcote scooped the British Hospitality Association Food Award presented by London Mayor Boris Johnson. Nigel also reached the final of BBC2's Great British Menuwith his Lancashire Hotpot and made his BBC Saturday Kitchen and Market Kitchen debuts. On 7th July, when Craig and Nigel attended the Catey awards ceremony, they were honoured to receive the "Special Award" recognizing their significant contribution to the hospitality industry and inspiration to others along with championing regional produce long before it was fashionable to do so. In September 2009, Nigel was also awarded an Outstanding Contribution to Tourism in the North West Tourism Awards.

This year also sees Nigel and Craig Bancroft celebrating 25 years of being in business with a group turnover of £10m.

Tony has worked in tourism for over twenty years and has spent all of this time promoting his favourite place- Lancashire! He is a self-confessed advocate of local dishes from local producers and views this as important in defining the distinctiveness of an area. His main food tourism work had been through developing 'Taste Lancashire 08 - The Year of Food and Drink' which was a themed 'foodie' year running alongside Liverpool 08 - European Capital of Culture. From staging the world's largest Lancashire hopot in 2007, which launched the year, through to generating over £2million of PR by the end, the story continues. Taste Lancashire is now one of Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board's main marketing themes which sits alongside an eating out quality mark of the same name in which Lancashire leads the way. A Chartered Marketer with the CIM for over ten years, Tony's destination marketing campaigns have been recognised nationally by Visit Britain and the IPA in their Effectiveness Awards. Asked recently if he eats to live, or live to eat, he said he is definitely one of the latter!

Ben is the Managing Director and founder of hangingditch wine merchants. He has spent over 10 years in the wine industry starting with stints at Oddbins and Harvey Nichols as shop managers and latterly as an account manager at Pagendam Pratt Wine Cellars, Domaine Direct and Willoughby's Wine Warehouse.

Ben is a full panel judge for the International Wine & Spirit Competition and the International Wine Challenge. He was a UK semi-finalist for Ruinart Sommelier of the Year in 2004. He obtained his WSET Diploma in 2001 and holds and Art Foundation and BA in Graphic Design from Glasgow School of Art.

Lisa is a freelance food writer and editor based in the north west. Born and bred in Cumbria, her love affair with food started at an early age thanks to her parents - owners of multi award-winning Higginson's of Grange Butchers and Pie Makers. After 18 months living in Australia, she returned to England to train as a journalist and spent five years working in regional newspapers, including the Westmorland Gazette, Manchester Evening News Weekly Newspapers and Lancaster and Morecambe Citizen.
After taking the freelance leap to pursue her life-long ambition of food journalism, she began writing for leading food and drink website Taste of Manchester.com, of which she is now editor, and now also contributes food features and reviews to Pocket Manchester city guide and View Manchester.com. Lisa is also food writer at the Cumbria-based Westmorland Gazette and is acting editor of its Limited Edition magazine and Good Dining Guide.  
Her work has led to be appointed a member of the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards panel and a judge for the Guild of Fine Foods Great Taste Awards.