The Earl of Wessex, HRH Prince Edward has visited the Hall For Cornwall, of which he is patron.

During his visit on Monday, Prince Edward met with trustees, town council representatives and public and private investors, as well as some of the Hall’s staff and volunteers and was given a presentation on the venue’s plans for the future.

Prince Edward was also presented with a very special cake which marks the start of a relationship between the two charities, the Hall and Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Cornwall.

Fifteen Cornwall has been helping to review and improve the hall’s hospitality and catering facilities with Jen Woodcock, part of Fifteen’s management team, having been seconded to the venue.

Polly Dent, restaurant director at Fifteen Cornwall has also been offering strategic support by overseeing the hall’s work and how it ties in with Fifteen’s overall objectives.

The Hall’s director Julien Boast said: “Over the last two years we've had cuts to our funding and it's important for us to find ways of delivering greater sources of income for the company. With the guidance of the Fifteen Cornwall team, the Hall is continuing to look at ways of improving the venue and making it more profitable which in turn will allow us to further our artistic ambitions.”