Penny Black’s Social Diary: Acrisure’s tournament; Haz’s lamb

Six-figure giving

Acrisure UK has achieved its most successful year of charitable fundraising to date, raising more than £200,000 for charities across the country in 2025. 

The annual Acrisure London Charity Football Tournament at Stamford Bridge in May was the standout event, bringing together 20 teams of insurers, partners and employees to raise more than £120,000. 

From their beaming faces, and of course their trophy,  its clear Team Canopius, pictured, were the champions of the day. If I was in attendance, they would have had my support for the jerseys alone. I’m partial to pink sportswear.

The charity football tournament returns this May with a new addition - a women’s match. If the success of the lionesses is anything to go by, I’m sure the fundraising target will be surpassed once again.

Penny’s Lunch Box

This lamb shank at Haz Bishopsgate turned out to be both extremely impressive and deeply disappointing.  

The shank itself was huge, the kind of portion that makes you wonder if the kitchen is trying to intimidate you into submission, but ultimately proved to be rather tasteless.

There’s something particularly deflating about a meal that looks that promising and fails to deliver. You commit to the portion size, you steel yourself for the challenge, and then it just tastes of very little. Two stars for ambition, one star for execution. Sometimes less is more.