Jay Rayner Tickets

A British writer, television personality and journalist, Jay Rayner is a jazz musician and live presenter of food-based talks. Born in 1966, Rayner is the son of Claire Rayner, the famous agony aunt who was a regular on TV in the 1980s and 1990s. Raised in Harrow, Rayner began his professional career with the Observer, a Sunday newspaper, after graduating from the University of Leeds. He went on to become the restaurant critic of that publication and has since gone on to make a name for himself in the world of cuisine. He has written articles for many of the UK's most famous periodicals, including GQ magazine, Esquire, Granta and the New Statesmen. He is also a writer of fiction and has produced a number of novels alongside his non-fiction work on food.

Jay Rayner's live talks

As a food critic with a large readership, Rayner has also gained an extensive audience through his television and radio work. A Sony Radio Award winner, Rayner presented a show on BBC Radio 4 called The Kitchen Cabinet, which is all about the culinary world.  Rayner has also featured in the BBC's cooking show Masterchef as a guest food critic, as well as reporting on food matters for The One Show. In the United States, Rayner was a judge on the TV show Top Chef Masters.

With so much knowledge of food, its uses in the kitchen, and the food production industries, Rayner presents a couple of one-man shows. My Dining Hell focuses on Rayner's experiences writing for the Observer about food and what constitutes bad dining experiences. Taking a wry look at the world of restaurateurs, Rayner has been presenting this show at one-off shows and food festivals all over the UK, for years.

Rayner has also toured with a show called Ten Food Commandments. This is a talk that delves into what Rayner thinks would make the culinary promised land. From time to time, the writer has presented both shows in double-header performances.

Jay Rayner's jazz musicianship

In addition to Rayner's food-based shows, he is an accomplished jazz performer. The Jay Rayner Quartet play a number of songs, many with a foodie theme. With Rayner on piano, the rest of the band is made up of Robert Rickenberg on bass, Dave Lewis on saxophone, and Pat Gordon-Smith, who provides vocals. The group have performed all over the UK, including the prestigious Ronnie Scott's club and Cadogan Hall.

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