EastEnders star helps celebrate Harpenden restaurant’s 15th anniversary

Everyone’s favourite TV ‘baddie’, EastEnders star Jake Wood, joined more than 80 guests at a lively charity fundraiser in aid of Keech Hospice Care in Harpenden.

Ahead of appearing at The Alban Arena in this year’s pantomime, Peter Pan, the BBC star was with the Mayor and Mayoress of Luton and other VIPs at Indian restaurant, Café Jeera.

They joined the restaurant’s loyal patrons at a culinary feast created especially for the event by the head chef, who was celebrating 15 years of serving authentic Gujarati, Kashmiri, Tamil and Punjabi cuisine.

Guests were entertained by traditional Indian dancers from the ‘Angel Dancers’ troupe, as well as local singing quartet, ‘Broadside’.

A raffle raised several hundred of pounds for Keech Hospice Care, which provides emotional and practical support for adults and children diagnosed with a life-limiting condition.

Café Jeera’s owner Farook Ahmed said: “Since opening in 2000, the restaurant has raised over £5,000 for a number of local charities, thanks to the generosity of our customers.

“We are very proud to support the local community which has helped us reach our fifteenth birthday in business.”