Rick Stein's restaurants launch fundraising lunch menus to support Australian bushfires relief

Celebrity chef Rick Stein's restaurant group is to hold a series of fundraising lunches in support of the charities and volunteers responding to the Australian bushfires.

Until 31 January a three-course lunch can be bought from the Stein Group's Barnes, Marlborough, Sandbanks and Winchester restaurants with a £2.50 cover charge going directly to support the area.

From the 24 February for two weeks a three-course lunch can be bought from the St Petroc's Bistro in Cornwall, for £15.95 with a £2.50 cover charge going directly to charity. Additionally, a discretionary £1 donation can be made from all the Stein restaurants.

The beneficiary charities are Treading Lightly an environmental organisation supporting the Milton Ulladulla region in New South Wales and NSW Rural Fire Service.

Co-founder of Rick Stein Restaurants, Jill Stein said: "We've all been so horrified watching the news reports that we wanted to take some action to help. Many of the people who visit our restaurants and stay in our accommodation are Australian, so we feel a great sadness at what is happening in their country. By raising money in our restaurants, we can play a small part in helping to rebuild some of these devastated communities."

Rick Stein and his first wife Jill Stein opened The Seafood Restaurant in Padstow. Since then the Rick Stein Group has expanded. There are now 12 restaurants, a pub, a cookery school, 40 guest rooms, self-catering properties and fours shops.