Northcote's Obsession 2024 chef line-up revealed


Obsession, the annual fine dining festival at Northcote in Lancashire, has announced its full line-up of chefs for the 2024 event.


The Ribble Valley hotel will play host to an impressive lineup of nineteen renowned chefs, boasting a combined total of 19 Michelin stars, from January 19th to February 4th next year. Notable names including Gareth Ward, Lorna Mcnee, Aktar Islam, and Emily and Michel Roux are set to lead special evenings during the festival. Each chef will curate a distinctive menu for the event, featuring some dishes exclusively available during this occasion.

Last year's event successfully raised over £70,000 for the industry charity Hospitality Action, and this year's edition will once again benefit the same cause. Guests attending Northcote executive chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen's night will have the opportunity to sample a preview of her Gourmet Menu for early 2024, which will be available for a limited time throughout February.

Launched in 2001, Obsession has evolved into a globally renowned event, amassing a substantial waiting list of eager attendees over the years.


Goodwin-Allen, who also serves as the director of the Game Bird and American Bar at the Stafford, London hotel, commented; 'Each year we approach Obsession with a view of ‘how can we equal last year's event' and it always seems like an impossible task. But I have to say I'm extremely excited for this year's line-up. We have a range of styles of cooking- diverse, traditional, progressive, highly technical - and it's packed with personality.'

Tickets for the event will be available for purchase starting on October 6, 2023. Priced at £210 per person, the ticket covers a Louis Roederer Champagne and canapé reception, a five-course menu, as well as coffee and petit fours. For those interested, a specially curated wine flight can be added, with prices beginning at approximately £70 per person.

The 2023 line-up:

• Friday 19 January: Lisa Goodwin Allen, Northcote, Ribble Valley (1 star)

• Saturday 20 January: Alex Greene, Deanes EIPIC, Belfast (1 star)

• Sunday 21 January, Gareth Ward, Ynyshir, Wales (2 star)

• Monday 22 January, Tom Barnes, L'Enclume (3 star)

• Tuesday 23 January, Sarah Hayward, The Coach, Buckinghamshire (1 star)

• Wednesday 24 January, Adam Smith, Woven by Adam Smith, Coworth Park, Berkshire (1 star)

• Thursday 25 January, Alex Tsiontinis, CTC, Athens (1 star)

• Friday 26 January, Adam Handling, Frog by Adam Handling, London (1 star)

• Saturday 27 January, Lorna Mcnee, Cail Bruich, Glasgow, (1 star)

• Sunday 28 January, James Knappett, Kitchen Table, London (2 star)

• Monday 29 January, Tom Shepherd, Upstairs by Tom Shepherd, Staffordshire (1 star)

• Tuesday 30 January, Aktar Islam, Opheem, Birmingham (1 star)

• Wednesday 31 January, Daniele Lippi, Acqolina, Rome (2 star)

• Thursday 1 February, Adam Byatt & Harry Kirkpatrick, Trinity, (1 star)

• Friday 2 February, ORO, Hotel Cipriani, Venice (1 star)

• Saturday 3 February, Henrique Sá Pessoa, ALMA (2 star)


The grand finale:

• Sunday 4 February, Michel Roux, La Gavroche/Ches Roux Ltd, London (2 star) & Emily Roux, Caractere, London