Read The Heartwarming Stories Of Our First 3 #LOCKDOWNHEROES
Last month we launched our #LOCKDOWNHEROES campaign along with some of London’s top restaurants and hotels, with the idea that we could give something back to the community.
The likes of Claridge’s, Bob Bob Ricard, Alain Ducasse, Brown’s Hotel and many more wanted to get involved and we’re well on our way to being about to treat dozens of heroes nominated by you to an all-expenses paid dinner or hotel stay once we come out the other side of this crisis.
It’s been truly heartwarming to read all of your stories and we can’t thank you enough for nominating your heroes – they are all our heroes now too.
We’ve picked the first three winners and we’ll share their stories with you below, but don’t worry, there’s still plenty of time to nominate your hero to win a dinner at one of London’s finest restaurants or a hotel stay at some of the plushest hotels in the UK.
Head over to our Instagram account for more information and to nominate.
We’d also like to say a huge thank you to our friends in the restaurant industry who have been so supportive of the #LOCKDOWNHEROES campaign, offering up prizes at the most challenging time they’ve ever experienced.
You’ve been nominating in your droves for the heroes keeping the country going, from the medical staff on the frontline to the fearless fundraisers, the caregivers to the couples whose weddings have been cancelled, the ambulance drivers to the parents home schooling and working simultaneously.
Here are our first three winners..
Bob Bob Ricard
Winner: Rosalie Cattermole, nominated by her friend Elisa
I would like to nominate Rosie for setting up a covid support alliance in her local community, all whilst studying medicine and working on the frontline in A&E
Rosalie will be treated to a three-course meal for two, plus Champagne and caviar at London’s Bob Bob Ricard.
Claridge’s
Winner: Joshua Kearsley, nominated by his wife Sarah.
“I would love so much to nominate my amazing husband, Joshua Kearsley, who is working so hard as a frontline NHS doctor on a covid-19 ward. He was asked to transfer with zero notice and is taking it all in his stride. I am so very proud, yet so very scared. He is exhausted after long shifts and has started to struggle to sleep on a night as he is so worried about his patients.
It is so easy for patients to see staff as robots sometimes, as they’re hidden behind layers of scary PPE – which is awful for both – but I get to see the side of him that they may not due to the masks – the side that worries, grinds his teeth with stress, doesn’t sleep, cries when he reads patients have passed away in the local paper.
Food is his passion. He absolutely loves cooking and even cooks for us after some of his awful shifts – he insists as it is his ‘downtime’.
He is my hero and I am so proud!
Joshua will be treated to a three-course meal for two with champagne on arrival and wine chosen by the restaurant’s sommelier, at Claridge’s iconic Foyer & Reading Room restaurant.
Frog by Adam Handling
Winner: Joey Dela Pena, nominated by his partner Gregory.
“I’d like to nominate my amazing partner Joey who is an ICU Nurse at St Thomas Hospital working hard to care for and treat as many Covid-19 patients as possible.”
He’s also been staying away from our home for more than seven weeks now as I was diagnosed with cancer just before Christmas last year and currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
“We speak each day through video calling but can’t wait for this pandemic to be over so he can come home.
Joey is absolutely deserving for a treat like this and like other ICU Nurses, he’s been working incredibly hard in such trying conditions.”
Joey will be treated to Adam Handling’s incredible tasting menu with matched wines at Frog’s Covent Garden restaurant.
You can still nominate your #LOCKDOWNHERO to win an all-expenses paid dinner or hotel stay at places such as Alain Ducasse, Sky Garden, 11 Cadogan Gardens, Benares, Searcys at the Gherkin and many more.
Head over to our Instagram page for more information
If you’re a restaurant or hotel who would like to get involved in the campaign, email astrid@thehandbook.com
