A team including Taylor's Port chief Adrian Bridge and chef Sat Bains has abandoned a bid to stage the world’s highest dinner party on Mount Everest following the devastating earthquake in Nepal.
The team, all believed safe, were in the area when the earthquake struck on Saturday, triggering avalanches on Everest which killed at least 18 people on the mountain itself, and reported to be more than 3000 in total, as of the afternoon of 27th April.
Bains, chef-proprietor at two Michelin-star Restaurant Sat Bains in Nottingham, had been due to cook the meal, but had already left the expedition last week after suffering altitude sickness.
Bridge, CEO of The Fladgate Partnership, owner of Port houses including Taylor’s, Fonseca and Croft, tweeted on Saturday: ‘Just to let everyone know that I am ok on Everest. More news later.’
According to the expedition website, the team had left Base Camp when the earthquake hit, but nobody was injured.
Leader Neil Laughton posted: ‘In the light of the tragic events unfolding in Kathmandu and on Mount Everest, we have decided to abandon our World’s Highest Dinner Party attempt and we are returning to Base Camp.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this disaster and we will continue to raise funds for the charity Community Action Nepal.’
The team had planned to set a new Guinness world record by holding the party on Everest’s North Col, an altitude of 7,100m (23,293ft), with Bains designing, preparing and freeze-drying the food.
Written by Richard Woodard
