Hospitality bosses to spend a night sleeping rough to fight homelessness

Hospitality bosses are set to spend the night in the cold next week to raise money and awareness for the plight of homeless people in London.

On Monday 21 November business leaders including Flemings Mayfair managing director Henrik Muehle, Martin Williams, chief executive of Gaucho and M Restaurants and Andy Hornby, chief executive of the Restaurant Group, will take their sleeping bags to Lord's Cricket Ground to spend the night outside.

Their efforts for charities including Only a Pavement Away and Charity Begins at Home are designed to support those in need as the cost of living crisis is expected to push more people onto the streets. There is already a 23% increase of people sleeping rough compared to 2021, the charity said.

Muehle, who took part in the 2021 sleepout and raised £13,000 for Charity Begins at Home, will expose himself to the elements once again for the food distribution charity that he volunteers for. This year he has already raised £17,000.

Muehle said: "With rising numbers of people in need relying so much more on food banks - compounded in 2022 by the cost-of-living crisis – it's so important we do our bit for those less fortunate."

Since CEO Sleepout was founded in 2013, events have raised £3.2m, with funds being donated to charities across the UK.