Singing sensation and West End star Beverley Knight wowed a star-studded crowd at The Albert Hall last night, following Manchester’s first ever city-wide banquet, which raised £527k for the Tim Bacon Foundation.

Over 1000 diners descended on eight Living Ventures restaurants, including Manchester House, Australasia, Artisan, Alchemist, Grand Pacific, Grill on the Alley and GUSTO, for the ambitious ‘Dream The Impossible’ charity event.

Bacon, who passed away last year after a long battle with cancer, founded the Living Ventures empire along with current CEO Jeremy Roberts and has been credited with transforming Manchester's now thriving restaurant and bar scene. The multi-venue event, held in his honour, was a fitting testament to his legacy.

20170922 Tim Bacon Foundation 42 — **1000 guests packed into the Albert Hall** Carl Sukonik

20170922 Tim Bacon Foundation Gary Neville — **United star Gary Neville (right) joined Living Ventures CEO Jeremy Roberts (middle) and Bruntwood's Toby Sproll (left) at the event** Natasha Everson-Williams

After enjoying their unique dining experience, guests relocated en-mass to a glamorous after party at The Albert Hall, organised in conjunction with Make Happen Events. Beverley Knight, who has headlined hit West End shows Memphis and The Bodyguard, performed her hits, including Shoulda Woulda Coulda and Middle of Love. Actor and DJ Craig Charles then continued the party with one of his legendary funk and soul sets into the early hours.

20170922 Tim Bacon Foundation 60 — **Beverley Knight on the Albert Hall stage** Carl Sukonik

20170922 Tim Bacon Foundation 11 — **Manchester House - eight Living Ventures restaurants held sell-out banquets** Carl Sukonik

The money raised by the Dream The Impossible event will go towards the Tim Bacon Foundation’s inaugural appeal for Christie's Proton Beam Therapy project and Maggie’s Centres, which provides much needed care for cancer patients.

Louise Stimson from Christie said “With the support of partners like the Tim Bacon Foundation, we are able to continue to provide the best facilities, care and treatment available. It has been wonderful working with the Tim Bacon Foundation this year, which culminated last night in an amazing evening of fundraising. I’m sure Tim would have been very proud of his team and thrilled with the results.”

Sinead Collins, of Maggie’s Manchester, said, “We’re thrilled and grateful to everyone who has worked so hard to put on such a special event. Those who loved and supported Tim Bacon and everyone out there who has been affected by cancer, will know the tough questions, exhausting treatment and difficult emotions that a cancer diagnosis can bring.

Tim Bacon 68483Fndjd — **Living Ventures founder Tim Bacon passed away last year after a long battle with cancer**

20170922 Tim Bacon Foundation 54 — **Crowds at The Albert Hall** Carl Sukonik

Jeremy Roberts CEO of Living Ventures and chair of The Foundation said, "The aim of Dream The Impossible was to celebrate Tim’s life and raise a huge amount of money for the Foundation. I am delighted to say we achieved both aims and had an amazing night. I cannot thank everyone who has supported this event enough, from my colleagues at Living Ventures in organising it, our amazing suppliers and sponsors and everyone who attended. It has been humbling to receive such goodwill from so many people in Manchester and from the wider hospitality industry. The money raised will really help make a difference to so many cancer patients.”

Find out more at the Tim Bacon Foundation.