House Party at Watergate Bay raises £23,000 for local communities

The Cornwall Community Foundation’s House Party at Watergate Bay Hotel on 19 January was a huge success. The black tie event was generously hosted by Will and Pix Ashworth of Watergate Bay Hotel and raised more than £23,000 for the Cornwall Community Foundation (CCF).

140 guests attended the event and enjoyed a fabulous dinner, an auction and raffle, dancing and the infamous vodka luge. The money raised at the event will be used by CCF to support local communities in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Executive Chef Neil Haydock created an outstanding three-course dinner at Zacry’s restaurant, Watergate Bay Hotel using prime local ingredients, of which many had been donated by generous suppliers.

Emma Mantle, Trustee of the CCF and Chair of the CCF Events Committee who organised the event, said “Many thanks to the Watergate Bay Hotel, their staff and all who donated so generously, we had a very profitable and great fun evening for CCF. We are very lucky to have a very dedicated group of volunteers who helped to organise this fantastic event.”

Tamas Haydu, CCF Chief Executive added, “The evening was outstanding. Will and Pix Ashworth and their team put on an amazing evening. The lovely crowd of supporters who gathered at Watergate created the most memorable night in Cornwall, celebrating the great work of the CCF whilst raising more money. A big thank you to our wonderful Events Committee who organised the party, David Lay, Auctioneer, and the many supporters and suppliers who donated food and drink and amazing auction prizes. Without them, it would not have been possible.”

The auction attracted a lot of attention and lots were keenly fought over. The CCF is very grateful to all those who donated such amazing prizes: So Television, Mike Rundell, Tregullow Beef, Nick Offord, Castaways, Emily Nixon, Jim and Ellie Michell, Roger Graffy, Shampers, Pix Ashowrth, Rick Stein, Pencoose Pantry, Trewithen Estate, Essex Tyler, Anita Howard and Ken Robertson, Cornerstone Restaurant, Kirker Holidays, Idle Rocks Hotel, Tresco Estates, Isles of Scilly Travel, Guy Henderson, The Nare Hotel, Skinners Brewery, James Darling, Jamie Medlin, Finisterre, The Wool Company and White Cloud Laundry.

Food suppliers included Westcountry (vegetables and chocolate), Ritter Courivaud (cured meats, olives, chillies biscuits), Treleavens (sorbet), Thomas Hanson Fine Foods (cheese), Two Brothers (hogs Pudding), Wellocks (veg and fruit), Da Bara (bread), Roddas (butter, cream and milk) and Origin (coffee).

Pix Ashworth, Director of The Watergate Bay Hotel, comments, “What a treat to see people in Cornwall come together to celebrate and raise money for the Cornwall Community Foundation. We have such admiration for the superb work of the many charities that the foundation supports and are thrilled that the evening has contributed to raising vital funds. Big thank yous to our generous sponsors and the brilliant CCF events committee.”