Mansfield college serves up 'invisible chips' to help support hospitality sector

The Refined fine dining restaurant at West Nottinghamshire College, which is due to re-open to the public on Wednesday, November 4, has joined forces with a national campaign designed to support the hospitality industry after it has been hit hard with unemployment due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The ‘invisible chips’ campaign was launched by Hospitality Action and is backed by television’s First Dates star Fred Sirieix and chefs Heston Blumenthal and Tom Kerridge.

It encourages diners to buy a portion of chips that are ‘0% fat, 100% charity’. The ‘chips’ are available online and in some restaurants.

The idea is that diners ‘chip in’ the cost of a portion of chips, meaning they can do their bit to support the thousands of hospitality workers who are at risk of seeing their livelihoods disappear.

Programme area leader Joanne Wilson said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be opening again to the public and to be able to support this charity means a lot to us.

“The hospitality industry has been hit hard since the pandemic but we’re all confident that this sector is prepared to flourish once again as businesses work hard to adapt to new regulations and customer expectations.

“We’re incredibly excited to show diners our new-look restaurant and launch all of our future fine dining experiences after such a long time of being away.”

Diners can add ‘invisible chips’ to their order at Refined for just £1.50.