Welcome to Les Dames d’Escoffier London

It’s my great pleasure to welcome you to the London Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) — an inspiring, philanthropic organisation of women leaders in the food, beverage, and hospitality industries.

Here in London — a chapter that reaches far beyond the city itself — we are proud to be celebrating 15 years since our founding by Sue Carter and Valentina Harris. From small beginnings, we’ve grown into a thriving community of professionals representing every corner of our industry.

Take a look at our members page and you’ll find an impressive and diverse group: chefs, food and beverage producers, farmers, retailers, writers, educators, publishers, and communications and marketing experts. Our members are based not only in London but also across England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland — a true reflection of the rich talent within our sector.

At our heart, we are guided by three core values:

Philanthropy – We raise funds and volunteer our time to support women in food, drink, and hospitality.
Support – We mentor, champion, and uplift one another, creating a network of genuine encouragement and collaboration.
Connection – We come together to share ideas, celebrate creativity, and enjoy the company of like-minded professionals who care deeply about our industry’s future.

I invite you to explore our website and social channels to learn more about our work, our events, and our members. If you share our philanthropic aims and would like to join our vibrant community of women, we’d love to hear from you at hello.ldelondon@gmail.com. We’re always delighted to welcome new members — if you’ve been in the industry for at least five years and hold a leadership role, please do get in touch.

Warm regards,

Dame Cathy Sloman