Josh Eggleton appointed as Patron of Square Food Foundation

Celebrated restaurateur and chef joins Bristol-based food education charity at pivotal moment of growth.

Award-winning chef and restaurateur Josh Eggleton MBE has been appointed as Patron of Bristol-based food education charity Square Food Foundation, marking a significant moment as the organisation enters a new phase of ambition and impact. 

For the past 15 years, Square Food Foundation has been advocating for the transformative power of food education to sustain a healthy and happy life. As the importance of food education is finally starting to be recognised by local and national governments, Josh’s appointment marks the start of a growing movement – one that recognises community projects cannot tackle food insecurity in isolation.  

By harnessing Josh’s influence within the wider food sector, this exciting new role highlights the value of collaboration between chefs, restaurants and grassroots organisations, amplifying a call to action to drive long-lasting change in Bristol and beyond. 

This new role builds on Josh’s deep commitment to community which goes beyond the kitchen, supporting a diverse range of projects around food access and education. He is the co-founder of Team Canteen, a not-for-profit CIC supporting food banks and underrepresented communities in Bristol as well as the driving force behind The Pony Farm Bus – a mobile farm driving awareness and understanding of how food is grown – which launches this summer. 

Josh has been a longstanding friend and advocate of Square Food Foundation, supporting their mission to make cooking from scratch accessible to people of all ages and abilities. Josh has provided teaching and mentorship to the charity’s students for many years. This new role will solidify their relationship together, announcing Josh as Square Food Foundation’s first ever Patron. 

This announcement comes at a pivotal moment for Square Food Foundation, ahead of the charity’s new strategy, which is set to launch with a refreshed website and branding this July. 

Founded in 2011 by award-winning chef and food educator Barny Haughton, Square Food Foundation is rooted in the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to cook from scratch, regardless of background or ability. As Barny steps away from day-to-day activities with Square Food Foundation, his legacy, vision and unwavering belief in the power of food and cooking to transform lives, continues to be the charity’s guiding principles throughout their new strategy. Barny’s pioneering voice hasenabled Square Food Foundation to position itself as a leading voice in food education, using cooking to build resilience and break cycles of greatest inequality. Barny will join Josh as Founder Patron and continues to advocate for the charity’s vital work.  

Square Food Foundation’s Dan Ford is one of the speakers at the Hospitality that works for everyone event, co-hosted by Bristol Food Network and Bristol BID on Tuesday 12 May. The event will explore what is really driving staff turnover and how to create environments where people really enjoy their work is part of a new series from Bristol Food Network and Bristol BID bringing the hospitality sector together to tackle the challenges that matter right now.

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