Award-winning beers from a local business were served up at a star-studded fundraising gala featuring some of the country's top chefs.

Empress, which produces artisan beers including a gluten-free organic lager, pale ale and IPA, was chosen to be served at a charity dinner bringing together all eight of the UK's three Michelin starred chefs for the first time.

The evening not only celebrated the very best of British gastronomy and the UK's exceptional culinary talents, but also showcased some of the country's top artisan brands. 

The event, held on Monday (22 January) at Raffles London at The OWO, was organised by the Bocuse d'Or UK.

The Bocuse d'Or is an international culinary competition that is the equivalent to the Olympics or the World Cup. Each year the UK enters, putting forward one of its up-and-coming chefs to compete against countries from across the world. 

This year, Tom Phillips, executive chef of Restaurant Story and commis chef Harry van Lierop from the Ledbury in London will represent the UK at the Bocuse d'Or Europe in Trondheim, Norway on Wednesday, 20 March.

Proceeds from the fundraising evening, in partnership with The Cancer Awareness Trust and Raffles London at The OWO, will give the chefs representing the UK the best chance of achieving gold in the Bocuse d'Or. 

Nicos Charalambous, Global Sales Director at Empress, which is based in Leamington Spa, said it was a dream come true for the craft beer's creations to be served up alongside food from the best chefs in the country - proving how perfectly it pairs with food and is more than an average beer. 

He said: "We have always said Empress is a cut above when it comes to flavour and quality, and has opened people's eyes across the country to the way beer can be paired with food in the same way wines can. We're already stocked in top restaurants across the UK from Tom Kerridge's Michelin-starred Hand and Flowers to The Peninsula Hotel, featuring Claude Bosi's rooftop restaurant Brooklands, and many more in between.

"But to be on the drinks list for an event like this - featuring the very best chefs in the UK - proves that Empress really is up there with the best when it comes to British brands."

It's not the first time Empress has been served at a prestigious event. Last year, the full Empress range, including its IPA, Pale Ale and Pilsner-style lager, was the only beer on tap at pre-parties for the World's 50 Best Hotels awards hosted by The Langham Hotel, as well as an after-party held at Michel Roux Jr's Wigmore Tavern, which is attached to five-star hotel.

Empress is also easily available to consumers thanks to winning a listing with online retailer Ocado, as well as being stocked in Waitrose. 

Empress' flagship product is its lager, which is rapidly winning acclaim for being gluten-free and organic as well as great tasting - scooping a silver award in the coveted Great British Food Awards alongside Empress IPA - and is aimed to be the UK's best gluten-free, organic lager.

For more information and to order online, visit www.empressale.com