Market Place Food Hall is launching a menu of pet aperitifs to celebrate National Pet Day on 11th April. This offer will be available at the Vauxhall, St Paul’s and Leicester Square venues across Friday 10th – Sunday 11th April. Market Place Food Hall is treating pooches to a well-deserved, complimentary tipple to celebrate the love we have for our pets. Each doggy drink is a pet-friendly twist on some of the nation’s favourite cocktails and stout. Forget treats in a jar at the bar, Market Place Food Hall is going one step further with this unique offering. Any dog visiting Market Place Vauxhall, St Pauls or Leicester Square over the weekend of National Pet Day will be able to claim the free treat for their four-legged friend – maybe to even enjoy a cheeky drink together. Each canine refreshment, created by the Market Place Food Halls mixologist, is made from fresh, pup-safe ingredients, ensuring every furry friend can raise a paw and get involved in the fun of having a tipple too. The doggy menu includes: Barkarita – Coconut water, apple juice, lime zest, frozen blueberries Apawrol Spritz – Carrot juice, coconut water, orange garnish Doggy Guinness – Bone broth topped with whipped cream Holly Hilton, Marketing Director at Market Place, said: “At Market Place Food Hall, we’re proud to lead the way in creating truly pet-friendly dining experiences. This year, we wanted to push the boat out for National Pet Day and offer a Doggy Drinks Menu including the infamous Doggy Guinness, which was a hit with the pooches last year! Every one of our sites is designed to be welcoming to pets, so our guests never have to compromise on dining out whether they’re enjoying a day with their dog or taking them to the office. Although we celebrate our pets every day, we wanted to do something special with this doggy menu so that they can be at the centre of your visit to a Market Place Food Hall.” WHAT: Dogs (or cats) receive a free pet-friendly drink when visiting Market Place for National Pet Day WHERE: Market Place Food Hall Vauxhall, 7 S Lambeth Pl, London SW8 1SP OR Market Place Food Hall St Paul’s 150 Cheapside, London EC2V 6ET OR Market Place Food Hall Leicester Square, 20-21 Leicester Square, Greater, London WC2H 7JX WHEN: Friday 10th April – Sunday 13th April (Market Place Food Halls St Paul’s not open on Sundays) HOW: Bring your pet into Market Place and ask at the bar for one of our Doggy Drinks

by London-TV in Business

Entries to this year’s S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy are now open. The world-renowned global talent program returns with a stellar jury line up for the UK’s Regional Final, taking place in October 2026.

Bringing together emerging culinary talent with some of the industry’s most respected chefs and partners, the seventh edition of the program invites chefs aged 30 and under to apply before 9 June 2026. Each chef will submit a signature dish that reflects their individual technical skill, creativity and personal approach to cooking. The International School of Italian Culinary Arts (ALMA) will produce a shortlist to progress to the regional finals.

This year’s jury features a prestigious line up of industry experts spanning restaurant operators, chef-owners and some of the most distinctive voices in the UK hospitality scene, including Paul Ainsworth (The Ainsworth Collection), Nieves Barragán Mohacho (Sabor and Legado), Chantelle Nicholson (Apricity), Angelo Sato (Humble Chicken), Emily Roux (Caractère), Stuart Ralston (Lyla), and Will Murray (Fallow Group).

The group will select a UK winner who will go on to represent the region at the Grand Finale in Milan in 2027, competing alongside leading young chefs from around the world. The esteemed jury will look well beyond the plate’s execution, expecting the regional winner to express their identity through their cooking and the trajectory they see for their food. Each dish will be assessed on technical skill, creativity and personal belief, with as much weight given to flavour and precision as to originality and the thinking behind it.
The Academy has a strong track record of identifying chefs at a pivotal moment in their careers. Alumni include Mark Moriarty (2015), now a prominent TV chef and leading voice in modern Irish cooking, and Killian Crowley (2017–18), who was previously at Michelin-starred Aniar in Galway. Most recently, UK winner Ben Miller (2024–25) has just been promoted to Head Chef at Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal. Reflecting on the impact of the competition, Miller comments: “Taking part in the competition was a turning point for me. It pushed me to reflect on who I am as a chef – not just what I cook every day, but what I want to communicate through my food. Presenting to chefs you admire pushes you in a different way, and the level of learning is hard to match. It gave me a much clearer sense of my cooking.”
Alongside the competition itself, the Academy is designed to support chefs beyond the event, offering mentorship, career development opportunities and prizes that help nurture the next generation of talent. Additional awards include the S.Pellegrino Social Responsibility Award (judged by the Sustainable Restaurant Association), the Acqua Panna Connection in Gastronomy Award, and the Fine Dining Lovers Food for Thought Award.

Paul Ainsworth, Chef Owner of the Ainsworth Collection, says: “It’s a privilege to be involved in something that genuinely supports young chefs at such an important stage in their careers. What’s exciting about this competition is that it’s not just about technical ability, it’s about seeing personality on the plate. You’re looking for chefs who understand flavour and craft, but who also have a point of view and a clear sense of where they’re heading. The UK has an incredible pool of talent coming through, and it’s always inspiring to see that first hand.”

Applications remain open until 9 June 2026. For more information and to apply, please visit sanpellegrinoyoungchefacademy.com