11 December – Mark Poynton along with business partners, Gareth and Emma John will host a charity fundraising lunch on Thursday 15 January 2026 at Ancient Shepherds in Fen Ditton, Cambridgeshire, continuing their pledge to ongoing fundraising for local charities.
The restaurant with rooms offers a tasting menu only model and is dedicated to its local community, teaming up with two local Cambridge charities; Centre 33 who offer free and confidential support to local young people and Jimmy’s who provide housing and assistance to those who are experiencing homelessness in Cambridge.
Tickets are £45 and guests will be treated to a 4-course lunch, with proceeds being split between both charities. Diners can expect dishes such as Fen Ditton’ Jerusalem artichoke velouté, with smoked duck and sherry vinegar jelly (amuse bouche), Cured Chalk stream trout, cucumber, yoghurt and dill; and 70 day aged Sirloin, red onion, apple, horseradish, celeriac and red wine, and one of Chef Mark Poynton’s signature desserts – apricot and almond ice cream sandwich, with Amaretto.
Since opening in July 2025, Ancient Shepherds has undertaken ongoing fundraising efforts, encouraging diners to purchase a £5 invisible dish during their visit which is passed on directly to the charities, alongside a recent 7-course menu with wine pairing donated to Jimmy’s 30th Gala auction and a pledge to raise £2.5K for Centre 33 for the Big Give Christmas Campaign.
Jimmy’s Cambridge said: “The generosity shown by The Ancient Shepherds team is truly inspiring. Their support will have a direct, life-saving impact on people experiencing homelessness in our city by enabling Jimmy’s Cambridge to offer much more than just a bed. It is donations like this that gives us the means to provide the essential safety and long-term, tailored support needed to help people move from street floor to their own front door.” – Cat Strawbridge, Head of Fundraising and Communications, Jimmy’s Cambridge
Centre 33 said: “The new early support hub for young people in Cambridge will allow us to reach double the number of young people every year, providing them with support for their mental health, practical issues and caring responsibilities, all under one roof. Every donation, big or small, takes us a step closer towards opening its doors. We are very grateful to The Ancient Shepherds team and their customers for their incredible contribution through this new initiative. It means so much to have the support of our local business community to help provide vital services and improve the lives of young people in Cambridgeshire.” – Corrina O’Flaherty Seddon, Development and Partnerships Lead for Centre 33.
Please email us if you would like a ticket for this event.