Bovey Castle to host movie-inspired cooking competition this February

A five-star Dartmoor resort is inviting members of the public to channel their inner food critic for the evening where five chefs - including a MasterChef: The Professionals winner – will be competing against each other with their own culinary creations.

Bovey Castle is hosting Battle of Eden 2026: A Night at the Movies on 28 February 2026 where each head chef from Bovey Castle and its four sister hotels, which make up The Eden Hotel Collection, will be creating dishes inspired by iconic films.

Those taking part include Mark Budd (Bovey Castle); Stu Deeley (Mallory Court Hotel and Spa, and MasterChef: The Professionals winner); Tim Jenkins (Brockencote Hall Hotel); Abhijit Dalsalkar (The Greenway Hotel & Spa); and Amith Fernando (The Arden Hotel).

The chefs will be bidding for the public's vote on the evening to be crowned the winner of the Battle of Eden. They will be taking their inspiration from iconic movies and recreating them on a plate, with the chef behind each dish remaining a mystery. The evening forms part of a two-night stay for two guests at Bovey Castle starting on February 27th 2026. Visitors can also take in movie-inspired scenes in the flesh, including watching falcons sweeping in mid-air like the scene from The Eagle Has Landed; teeing off on the plush Championship golf course Happy Gilmore style; or unwinding in the Elan Spa in Gatsby-worthy glamour.

Mark Chambers, managing director at Eden Hotel Collection, said: "We have chefs in our ranks who have cooked for the Royal Family, celebrities, and won major competitions, so this is a rare opportunity for foodies to experience a breadth of talent all in one night."

Marks adds, "It's also the perfect chance to give a loved one the VIP treatment, as not only will they get to judge their food beneath glittering chandeliers, they'll also be able to sip champagne in our grand Cathedral Room overlooking the rolling Dartmoor hills, and unwind in our Elan Spa."

Mark Budd, executive head chef at Bovey Castle, added: "It's a real privilege working in such picturesque surroundings that wouldn't look out of place in a movie - a point we are reminded of every day when we welcome new guests through our doors, and we're looking forward to a weekend of lights, cameras and food."

For more information about the two-day break, and to book, visit www.boveycastle.com/battle-of-eden-2026-bovey-castle-night-at-the-movies