STAFF and residents at Cedars Care Home in Landford are celebrating after managing director Duncan Edwards helped lead his team to victory in the Barchester Charitable Foundation Cook Off 2026, raising tens of thousands of pounds for charity.

Edwards, from Barchester’s South West Division, joined fellow managing directors and a hospital director from across five divisions to form the team “The Pressure Cookers”. They went head-to-head with Barchester’s executive team, known as “The Rolling Scones”, in a high-stakes culinary competition held to raise money for the foundation.

The Pressure Cookers were ultimately crowned champions, with judges praising their menu, which featured a lobster bisque with chive crème fraiche and croutons as a standout starter.

Main course options included cod loin with beetroot, asparagus and champ mash, or a homemade sweet potato and chickpea curry. Desserts ranged from white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake to rhubarb crumble custard tart, with a sausage plait and red onion chutney served as an afternoon tea item.

Organisers said the Cook Off 2026 has so far raised £53,000, with donations still being counted.

The Barchester Charitable Foundation supports vulnerable people and those living with disabilities by funding grants that improve mobility, independence and access to community life. In 2025 alone, the charity distributed £424,000 to 262 small groups and charities, as well as 123 individuals across the UK.

Duncan Edwards said: “I absolutely loved being a part of this, it was a fantastic team effort, and I am so proud of what we all achieved, it just goes to show you can do anything when you all pull together.

“The dishes we created looked amazing and were delicious if I do say so myself, I was especially pleased with the incredibly moreish sweet potato and chickpea curry.

“The icing on the cake was the amount of money we raised thanks to the support of all our homes, so I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated.”

Cedars general manager Anish Abraham added: “We are all in awe of chef Duncan, is there nothing he can’t do!

One of Duncan’s meals

“All of the MDs did a brilliant job and raised so much money; they are an absolute inspiration to us all. The foundation is a cause very close to all our hearts, so this is a remarkable achievement.”