Join Silo, OTZI and Billy Tannery for an evening celebrating the versatility of deer

DEER is an event hosted by Fortnum & Mason that brings together some of the most interesting voices in food, craft and sustainability to explore a growing issue in the British countryside: deer management.

While deer are a treasured part of the UK's landscapes, their populations have grown significantly in some areas, which can damage woodlands and wildlife habitats. Responsible deer management is therefore an important conservation tool. But what happens to the deer afterwards is just as important.

At this event, Silo, OTZI and Billy Tannery will demonstrate how a more circular approach can turn a conservation challenge into valuable food, materials and craftsmanship. From cooking and eating wild venison to creating beautiful products from deer leather, they show how using the whole animal can reduce waste and support a stronger connection to nature.

Part of Fortnum's Food & Drink Studio autumn programme, Preservation, the evening will explore how we can make better use of local resources while protecting the landscapes, skills and traditions that sustain them. Through food, craft and conversation, DEER offers a practical example of conservation in action.

Who are the collaborators?

Silo / Douglas McMaster: Douglas McMaster is a chef, author and a global pioneer of the zero-waste food movement. As the visionary behind Silo, the world’s first zero-waste restaurant, he introduced a revolutionary culinary framework centered on direct-trade sourcing, whole-system ingredient utilisation and completely closed-loop material cycles.

Billy Tannery: Billy Tannery is a new kind of leather company. Founded in 2017 by Jack Millington, a farmer’s son with no background in the leather industry, today the business combines a farm-based tannery and leather goods brand. Specialising in locally sourced goat and deerskins previously destined for the waste pile, Billy Tannery produces small batch vegetable-tanned leather and British-made leather goods for private and trade customers.

OTZI: OTZI is an independent, material-led British studio and workshop specialising in traditional leatherwork and woodwork. Everything is made by hand in the Norfolk-based workshop. Designed by founder Otis Ingrams, a QEST leatherwork scholar with a deep understanding of craft and design, the team makes furniture and interior objects defined by structural transparency and uncompromising material integrity for residential and hospitality environments.

Ticket includes:

drink on arrival and throughout the evening

a selection of canapes and bowl food, including Douglas McMaster's Koji Deer Kebab (wild venison seasoned with koji and cooked over fire, served with a shio koji venison soy glaze)

a short panel discussion with the three collaborators

a showcase of wild deer leather goods

a live, interactive leatherworking demonstration where guests can try their hand at handstitching

Please email Marketing.Emails@FortnumandMason.co.uk if you have any questions about dietary requirements

If you need to cancel, we can only offer you a refund if you cancel within 72 hours notice of the date your ticket is booked for.

Our Food & Drink Studio events are frequently photographed and filmed for use across our channels. Footage is likely to include individuals within the background or audience. If you do not wish to be photographed or filmed, please notify a member of staff.

About Fortnum & Mason's Food & Drink Studio:

Opened in April 2023, Fortnum's Food & Drink Studio is a space dedicated to the search for extraordinary food and drink experiences.

Enjoy unmissable masterclasses and intimate dining experiences hosted by some of the world's best chefs. Live demonstrations led by major names in food and drink. Illuminating conversations with makers and creatives who share our passion for all things delicious. The chance to grab an apron and grow your own culinary skills with a little help from the experts.

For a full list of upcoming events visit: https://www.fortnumandmason.com/events

Description supplied by the event organiser.