The 10th Annual Mogford Prize Party at Gees

This year, the annual literary competition, Mogford Prize, hits a mighty 10-year milestone; 10 years, 10 winners and nearly 10,000 entries since 2013…

On Friday 23rd September, we held an extravagant event at Gees Restaurant & Bar, uniting friends and family to celebrate this 10-year landmark, 2022 Mogford Prize winner Caitlin Venniker and runner-ups; Lorna Fergusson, Drishya Maity and Emily Devane.

For one night only, Gees closed its doors and became an exclusive event venue; tables aside, abundant mingling space and seating.

Graced with a blue sky and warm sunshine, the Mogford Prize Party welcomed guests early in the evening with some smooth jazz, exquisite canapés and Jamón, irresistible homemade sangria and pink lemonade, and in true Mediterranean fashion… Cava. All was masterly prepared by the Gees team, now headed by Allan McLaughlin, who recently relocated from Parsonage Grill.

As daylight faded and a warmer glow began to reflect in the glasshouse, Jeremy Mogford presented the award to this year’s winners and short listers and officially launched our 10-year book, all in the presence of distinguished guests and literary giants including Sir Philip Pullman, Mick Herron and Philip Blackwell.

It was a grand evening for lovers of the literary world… one that’ll remain in our fondest memories. (View, share and download the prize party photographs here.)

As Mick Herron says, “the Mogford Prize is a hidden jewel in the literary landscape: an opportunity for all those who take joy in crafting short fiction to compete for a hugely generous award.”

‘Food & Drink Short Stories’ binds all 10 winning stories to date into one book. As a token of our gratitude to participants, supporters and our esteemed judges, books were gifted on the night – we know the short stories will be thoroughly enjoyed by all and treasured in years to come.

Books are available to purchase throughout The Oxford Collection’s restaurants and hotels, and online via our gift voucher sites.