One of TV’s most familiar culinary faces, Jean-Christophe Novelli, has been announced as the latest special guest to appear at the 45th Lakes Hospitality Show, taking place in Cumbria on 25-26 March 2020.

Best-known for his work on Hell’s Kitchen and Culinary Genius, the multi-Michelin star and AA-Rosette-winning chef, author and restaurateur will host insightful sessions focussing on how hospitality businesses can make the most out of their produce and ingredients.

Just a sixty-second drive from the M6 at Junction 36, Jean-Christophe will join other special guests at the event including MasterChef 2019 winner Irini Tzortzoglou, TV wine expert Joe Wadsack, and hospitality guru Andrew Coy.

One of the region’s biggest trade events of 2020, the Lakes Hospitality Show is Cumbria’s longest-running show of its kind and is organised by The Lakes Hospitality Association (LHA) in partnership with Cumbria Tourism.

Jean-Christophe says, “I am delighted to be attending the Lakes Hospitality Trade show on the 25th and 26th March. Apart from being in one of my favourite parts of the UK, this show is a fantastic hospitality event, not just for the locals but for the whole country. I look forward to delivering my business talks and of course meeting the young newcomers, exhibitors and attendees throughout the event”.

Cumbrian hotelier and Director of the Lakes Hospitality Trade Show, James Tasker, says, “We’re absolutely thrilled that Jean-Christophe will be joining us at this year’s Lakes Hospitality Trade Show. His passion for sharing his wealth of knowledge is plain for all to see, especially evidenced by the opening of his very own cookery school, ‘The Novelli Academy’, as well as his brasserie restaurant ‘Novelli at City Quays’ inside Belfast’s Marriott AC Hotel.

“This year’s Lakes Hospitality Show reaches a real milestone in 2020 by celebrating its 45th year and we really wanted to mark the occasion with some fantastic household names joining us on the VIP list. Being so close to the M6 motorway, the show at the Junction 36 Rural Auction Centre is not only one of the biggest in the north of England but one of the most easily accessible, so we can’t wait to see everyone!”

More than 1,250 delegates from across Cumbria, Lancashire, Yorkshire and beyond were welcomed through the doors during last year’s two-day event, where the show hosted a record-breaking 136 stands for a wide range of hospitality businesses including tourist attractions, food and drink suppliers and support services such as IT technology and catering equipment.

The winner of MasterChef 2019 has been confirmed as a special guest at the forthcoming Lakes Hospitality Show on 25 & 26 March 2020, where she will be creating special dishes made from nationally and internationally renowned local Cumbrian produce.

Irini Tzortzoglou, the latest special guest to be confirmed for the event in March hasn’t been wasting any time, having already highlighted products including Kin Vodka, Hawkshead Relish, beverages from the Lakes Distillery, Claire’s Handmade and even Windermere Artisan ice cream as potential ingredients for her creations.

One of the region’s biggest trade events of 2020, the Lakes Hospitality Show is Cumbria’s longest-running shows of its kind and is organised by The Lakes Hospitality Association (LHA) alongside Cumbria Tourism.

Irini impressed MasterChef judges in early 2019 thanks to her ambitious cooking methods and says, “Coming from Crete, which is acknowledged by many as the European seat of eagerness to show hospitality – as well as a foodie island, I feel that I fit right in in Cumbria. It is a wonderful county which welcomes millions of visitors every year and its tourism industry has such a strong culinary focus.

“I have always considered myself extremely fortunate to have homes in two very different places, Cumbria and Crete, where nature is stunning, the people are warm and hospitable, and much time is taken by many to produce amazing culinary delights. This is my hope for this year’s LHA show where I will create dishes that I love using great, world-famous local produce.

“I was honoured to be asked to participate at the LHA show this year and I will very much enjoy bringing together the abundance of wonderful Cumbrian produce made by passionate artisans and elements of my culinary heritage, demonstrating what is possible with only a small amount of effort and time, along with a lot of enthusiasm.”