NORTHCOTE OBSESSION’25 RAISES £77,000* FOR HOSPITALITY ACTION
22 World Class Chefs
27 Michelin Stars
1,572 Obsession Guests
97 Different Dishes
88 Matched Wines
Lancashire, UK, March 2025 – Northcote Obsession’25 is a officially a wrap. With a star-studded line up featuring gastronomy’s elite and over £77,000 raised for Hospitality Action there’s no denying that this year’s epicurean culinary festival was once again a resounding success.
Between 24th January and 9th February, 22 world class chefs with 27 Michelin stars between them visited the Ribble Valley as the annual Northcote Obsession festival celebrated a landmark 25th anniversary, helping to raise a significant amount of money for a charity very close to the heart of Northcote.
Honouring the major 25 year milestone milestone, Obsession returned to the culinary stage and firmly cemented its reputation as one of the most prestigious and internationally recognised gourmet festivals in Europe.
Some 1,572 guests enjoyed 97 different dishes with 88 matched wines in a stunning showcase of cuisine from chefs from all over the world. From Paris to Cape Town, Singapore to Denmark, Glasgow, Sussex, London and of course Lancashire with Northcote’s own Lisa Goodwin-Allen, who of wowed the Obsession crowds with her usual mix of highly technical yet nostalgic cooking in a menu created especially for the event.
The festival culminated in a visit from highly acclaimed chef Alain Roux of the three Michelin starred The Waterside Inn on Sunday 9th February.
Throughout the 19-day festival followers of Northcote’s Instagram channel were treated to a series of behind-the-scenes films that showed the chefs hard at work in the Northcote kitchens and allowed fans to get a view of the inner workings of the festival.
Commenting on Obsession24, Lisa Goodwin-Allen said:
“Obsession has an extraordinary history, and I feel privileged to have been part of that history since day one. Craig Bancroft and Nigel Haworth introduced this extraordinary event in 2001 at Northcote. The concept was unique for the UK and that’s what made it what it is today. I was proud to take over the reins in 2022 and bring collections of innovative chefs and a diverse range of cuisine to Obsession. It has been an honour to lead the 25th anniversary of this special event.
“Over the years I’ve seen so many incredible chefs work their magic on the pass and create everlasting memories for our guests. The passion and the excitement of Obsession is infectious. Beyond the incredible food, Obsession is a social gathering for industry professionals and food enthusiasts, it’s a place to network, connect and share a love for outstanding food and wine. Obsession25 has been extra special for the team, it has been a major milestone and to celebrate we invited some of the world’s best chefs to join us. It has been truly magical and we’re hugely thankful to everyone who made the journey to Northcote and helped to continue the legacy of this amazing event.”
This year, followers of Northcote’s social media accounts were treated to a host of behind the scenes footage demonstrating not just the scale and organisational precision it takes to coordinate a festival like Obsession, but also the camaraderie felt by chefs and teams from all over the UK and Europe coming together at this exclusive event.
View them here:
Instagram @northcoteuk / instagram.com/northcoteuk
Facebook @NorthcoteUK / facebook.com/NorthcoteUK
Below are the thoughts of just some of the chefs who took part in Obsession’25.
Restaurant Pine’s chef-owner Cal Byerley said: “Lisa asking us to take part in what is one of the UK’s top cooking events was pretty amazing for us both and it was a real honour to be involved.”
Graeme Cheevers, chef patron of UNALOME by Graeme Cheevers in Glasgow shared: “I have always been a fan of the Obsession event and followed it throughout my cooking career. Last year my wife asked if we could go to the 2025 event…months later I was asked to take part. It is a great event showcasing great chefs from all over the UK and further afield, bringing them together at Northcote. Scotland has fantastic ingredients, so I was delighted to be able to show these off in my dishes.”
Terre, Castlemartyr Resort in Cork’s head chef/founder Vincent Crepel added: “I was very thankful for the chance to join the Obsession event in the UK. It was a wonderful opportunity to share a bit of what we do at Terre with the British market, and was truly inspiring to be among such talented chefs from near and far.”
Hélène Darroze & Marco Zampese of three star Hélène Darroze at The Connaught in London concluded: “The British Isles has some of the finest produce in the world, and Obsession helps us keep that front and centre. It’s always such a diverse lineup of chefs, and it was a privilege to come together to celebrate that in such a beautiful area of the country.”
Ends
Hospitality Action
Hospitality Action is dedicated to giving professionals in the industry help, advice and support they need when times get tough. Serious illness, mental health issues, financial difficulties, family problems, or addiction: whatever the challenges faced, Hospitality Action is there to get people back on their feet and enjoying their job again. And when it’s no longer possible to work, the charity helps people prepare for the next phase of their lives.
Obsession launched 2001 as a celebration of great food, wine and a meeting of friends, old and new. From that first event, it has evolved but the ethos is still very much the same; to offer guests a completely memorable culinary experience, created by some of the world’s most innovative chefs.
Guests enjoyed a Louis Roederer Collection 243 Champagne reception, and had the option of adding a wine flight to the dinner. Managing director Craig Bancroft and his wine team meticulously choose wines to pair with the unique flavours and ingredients of each course each night, to elevate the dining experience. Northcote recently retained its Spectator Two Glass Wine Award for its absolute commitment to wine, and breadth of the cellar across multiple winegrowing regions including Burgundy, Spain and Portugal. The hotel’s atmospheric bar was also a focal point of every evening with specially created Obsession cocktails that take inspirations from chefs’ menus.
Obsession’25 sponsors
- Restaurant sponsor: San Pellegrino
- Cook School sponsor: Gaggenau
- Film sponsor: Wellocks
- Wine sponsor: Wright Wine Company
- Kitchen sponsor: Electrolux
- Digital Sponsor: La Font / CCS
- Technology Sponsor: Deepbridge
- Programme sponsor: Sarah Layton Jewellers
- Champagne sponsor: Louis Roederer
- Glass sponsor: Reidel
- Key Sponsor: Macallan Whisky
- Key Sponsor: Double Dutch
- Hotel Room Sponsor: Bettys & Taylors
- The official charity for Obsession25 was Hospitality Action
For more information visit www.northcoteobsession.com
ENDS
Located in the Lancashire’s Ribble Valley, surrounded by miles of unspoiled and glorious countryside, sits the treasured boutique hotel Northcote. Its Michelin-starred restaurant, headed up by Lisa Goodwin-Allen has long been known for its adventurous menus using seasonal ingredients available to the restaurant. An award-winning wine list is curated the outstanding wine team to complement the menu dishes. This had led to Northcote being widely recognised as one of the best food-led, boutique hotels in the UK.
Northcote is perfectly situated to let guests enjoy the great outdoors – by foot or bike – or explore the quaint market towns and picturesque historic villages locally. Meanwhile, for something indoors, The Northcote Cookery School is one of the UK’s top culinary schools with inspirational cookery courses from barbeque to bread. Lisa Goodwin-Allen’s Chef’s Table places diners in the heart of the action in Northcote’s kitchen, offering a unique celebration space where guests can witness the theatre of exquisite dishes being created.
This renowned country house hotel has 26 imaginative and inspired rooms, all individual in character. At Northcote you have a choice between the Manor House rooms and Garden Lodge rooms. The Garden Lodge is situated within the Northcote gardens, just across from the Manor House, with eight rooms including a master suite.
For further details contact:
Kate Burke at Q Communications
kate@qcommunications.co.uk / 07889223906