Following the record-breaking success of last year’s festival, and subsequent ‘Outstanding Contribution Award’ at the AA Hospitality Awards, Obsession at one of Lancashire’s top fine-dining restaurants, Northcote, is set to be full of the flair and exceptional gastronomy it is famous for once again. Known as one of the most prestigious and internationally recognised gourmet festivals in Europe, Obsession will take place at Northcote in the Ribble Valley, from January 19 to February 4, 2024.
Nineteen world class chefs with 19 Michelin stars between them will make the trip to luxury Lancashire hotel and Michelin star restaurant Northcote, which is part of The Stafford Collection, and headed up by executive chef Lisa Goodwin-Allen, to cook up a culinary storm. Taking place over 17 nights, the festival will see a number of exciting and emerging chefs, as well as some of the world’s most established, from all corners of the UK, Italy and Portugal, cook their unique Obsession menus for those quick enough to get their hands on the hottest tickets in town.
For the first time, guests at Lisa’s night will enjoy a preview of her early 2024 Gourmet Menu, meaning those who miss out on tables to the opening night of the event can visit the restaurant and sample her 2024 Obsession Menu for a limited time throughout February.
Here is the chef line-up for Obsession 2024 at Northcote.
- Friday 19th January: Lisa Goodwin Allen, Northcote, Ribble Valley (1 star)
- Saturday 20th January: Alex Greene, Deanes EIPIC, Belfast (1 star)
- Sunday 21st January, Gareth Ward, Ynyshir, Wales (2 star)
- Monday 22nd January, Tom Barnes, L’Enclume (3 star)
- Tuesday 23rd January, Sarah Hayward, The Coach, Buckinghamshire (1 star)
- Wednesday 24th January, Adam Smith, Woven by Adam Smith, Coworth Park, Berkshire (1 star)
- Thursday 25th January, Alex Tsiotinis, CTC, Athens (1 star)
- Friday 26th January, Adam Handling, Frog by Adam Handling, London (1 star)
- Saturday 27th January, Lorna McNee, Cail Bruich, Glasgow, (1 star)
- Sunday 28th January, James Knappett, Kitchen Table, London (2 star)
- Monday 29th January, Tom Shepherd, Upstairs by Tom Shepherd, Staffordshire (1 star)
- Tuesday 30th January, Aktar Islam, Opheem, Birmingham (1 star)
- Wednesday 31st January, Daniele Lippi, Acquolina, Rome (2 star)
- Thursday 1st February, Adam Byatt & Harry Kirkpatrick, Trinity, (1 star)
- Friday 2nd February, Riccardo Canella, ORO, Hotel Cipriani, Venice (1 star)
- Saturday 3rd February, Henrique Sá Pessoa, ALMA, Lisbon (2 star)
The grand finale
- Sunday 4th February, Michel Roux Jr, La Gavroche/Chez Roux Ltd, London
(2 star) & Emily Roux, Caractere, London
Obsession launched 2001 as a celebration of great food, wine and a meeting of friends, old and new. From that first event, it has evolved but the ethos is still very much the same; to offer guests a completely memorable culinary experience, created by some of the world’s most innovative chefs.
Previous years of Obsession have seen noteworthy chefs such as Tom Kerridge, James Martin, Angela Hartnett, Jason Atherton, Tom Kitchin and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall cook up exciting dishes at Northcote, which is less than an hour’s drive from Manchester.
Lisa Goodwin-Allen, executive chef of Northcote and director of The Game Bird and American Bar at The Stafford, London said: “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.
“The fact that each year is a sell out just shows there is still an appetite for fine dining and an exclusive experience. And let’s not forget the money raised for charity, last year broke the record yet again, with over £70,000 raised for Hospitality Action, which will be our beneficiary again this year.”
Managing director Craig Bancroft and his wine team meticulously choose wines to pair with the unique flavours and ingredients of each course, every night providing a further elevated the dining experience. The hotel’s atmospheric bar is also a focal point of every evening with specially created Obsession cocktails that take inspirations from chefs’ menus.
People can register for tables for Obsession24 on October 6, and the price includes a Louis Roederer Champagne and canapé reception, five course menu, coffee and petit fours. A specially paired wine flight can be added. Register for Obsession24 at Northcote here.
Find Northcote at Northcote Road, Langho, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB6 8BE.