WIRRAL celebrity chef Nisha Katona has visited Claire House this week to help children decorate dog biscuits in preparation for a major fundraising event.
Described as "a really foodie, family, fun day out" the Mowgli Trust Dog Show takes place at Claremont Farm on Old Clatterbridge Road in Bebington on Sunday, September 10 and 11.
Now in its fourth year, the event is staged by the charitable arm of Nisha's restaurant chain Mowgli Street Food and has raised more than £43,000.
Nisha Katona MBE helping make dog biscuits with children at Claire House Hospice during visit this week. Pictiure: Craig Manning
The weekend promises fantastic canine competitions, great local food, drink and craft stalls, alongside LIVE sundowner acoustic sets, funfair attractions and children’s activities. The Main Arena will be hosted by Jonny Bongo of Bongo’s Bingo along with Heart Radio’s Adam Weighell.
Nisha - a former barrister who received an MBE for her services to the food industry in 2019 - visited the hospice to help children prepare dog biscuits.
She told the Globe: "Mowgli Street Food holds a dog show every year on Wirral and all the profits go to Claire House. We have a very strong affiliation with Claire House. When I built my second restaurant, Claire House became our house charity."
The 51-year-old, who lives in Willaston, continued: "I adore everything that they do, we've got a really good relationship with them. So. when I was doing the dog show, I thought it was absolutely obvious that the reason to do it is to bring families, together and have a fantastic day for Claire House.
"It's a really foodie, family, fun day out. We've got dodgems, a Ferris wheel, Johnny Bongo doing the hosting and loads of food.
"On the Saturday, we're open until 7pm, so we'll have bands playing in the marquee and food all night. So, just come and chill; you do not need a dog, there will be plenty there.
"The most important thing is that every time you click that button and buy a ticket, what you're doing is supporting a family and a child at Claire House, more than we've ever needed it coming out of the pandemic. These charities need to be right back on the radar."
Left to right: Dan Halliday, corporate fundraiser for Claire House, with Nisha Katona and Hannah Shannon, head of communications at the hospice during visit this week. Picture: Craig Manning
Dan Halliday, corporate fundraiser for Claire House said: "Since we've been the charity for Mowgli's on Water Street in Liverpool, the customers staff have raised £225,000 which, for a charity like ours, is huge.
"We are a local children's hospice that relies so heavily on the goodwill of local businesses, people, schools, you name it. We would be able to exist without that support. It's a fantastic amount of money.
"Since the pandemic, we've found that people are more than willing to get onto organising fundraising events like the dog show and coming to events like this.
"To be part of a massive event, where we can thousands of people down there to have an absolutely great time is a real honour."
Nisha continued: "The dog show is, I kid you not, the best day of the year for me. Building the show is like building another restaurant ... it's a mammoth job.
"Then you get and it's all done and it's the first time you can just relax and chill and watch the dogs and the smiles on people's faces.
"It's a great day".
To book your tickets for this year's event, go to https://mowglitrust.com/dog-show-2022/
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here