Chefs from restaurants across Norfolk returned to where they learned their trade to pay tribute to their late mentor.

Daniel Smith, Richard Hughes, Mark Dixon, Simon Wainwright and Peter Clarke prepared a six-course dinner at the Imperial Hotel in Great Yarmouth in memory of Roger Mobbs, who died earlier this year. 

The chefs work, respectively, at the Ingham Swan and The Wildebeest, the Assembly House in Norwich, the Kings Arms in Fleggburgh, SW1 in Gorleston, and the Imperial Hotel itself.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Mark Dixon, Simon Wainwright, Daniel Smith and Peter Clarke at the Imperial Hotel in Great Yarmouth. Mark Dixon, Simon Wainwright, Daniel Smith and Peter Clarke at the Imperial Hotel in Great Yarmouth. (Image: Imperial Hotel Great Yarmouth)

The event was hosted by the hotel’s former owner, Nick Mobbs, with each course of the six-course dinner prepared by an Imperial Hotel chef, past or present, all of whom trained under Roger.

Under his management, the hotel’s kitchens were a training ground for a number of the county's best known and most celebrated chefs.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Laughs behind the scenes in the kitchen with Grant Smith Mark Dixon and Simon Wainwright. Laughs behind the scenes in the kitchen with Grant Smith Mark Dixon and Simon Wainwright. (Image: Imperial Hotel Great Yarmouth)

Following each course, the chefs recounted stories of their time working with 'Mr', as Roger was known.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Roger Mobbs was remembered Picture: Imperial HotelRoger Mobbs was remembered Picture: Imperial Hotel (Image: Imperial Hotel)

They ended the evening by raising a bottle of Holsten Pills to toast Roger’s memory – his beer of choice drunk at the end of each shift.

The event also celebrated 90 years of the Imperial Hotel.

The Imperial Hotel was purchased by Nick’s grandfather, Campbell Lindsay, in the early 1930s.

He ran the business until the late 1960s when Nick’s parents, Roger and Jill Mobbs, took over. Roger ran the kitchens while Jill looked after housekeeping.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Grant Smith, Aileen Mobbs and Nick Mobbs at the Imperial Hotel in Great Yarmouth. Grant Smith, Aileen Mobbs and Nick Mobbs at the Imperial Hotel in Great Yarmouth. (Image: Imperial Hotel Great Yarmouth)

Nick joined the business in 1984 as the hotel manager and when Nick and Aileen married in 1987, Aileen also joined the family business.

In March this year, the couple announced their retirement from the day-to-day running of the hotel and the premises became an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) with established hotel director, Grant Smith, remaining at the helm and part-owning the business.

Mr Smith said: “It was a wonderful night indeed and one that will linger long in people’s memories."

The event, attended by 90 guests, raised more than £7,000 for prostate and breast cancer charities.