From Michelin Stars to Family-Run Institutions: Finalists Announced for the 2026 Be Inclusive Hospitality Spotlight Awards
- Guild Secretary
- 5 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Be Inclusive Hospitality (BIH) has announced the finalists for the fifth annual BIH Spotlight Awards, recognising exceptional Black and ethnic minority talent across hospitality, food and drink in the UK.
This year's finalists include Michelin-starred West African restaurant Chishuru, a Cantonese institution in Blackpool, Michael Wan’s Mandarin, a MasterChef champion Jhané Gibson, and professionals from some of the UK's leading hospitality businesses, reflecting the diversity and breadth of the UK hospitality sector.
Returning headline sponsor OpenTable, a global leader in restaurant technology, will join BIH at Quaglino's, London, on Monday 12 October 2026, where winners across 15 award categories will be announced.
Following a rigorous judging process, an independent panel of hospitality leaders selected finalists recognised for their accomplishments, leadership, and innovation. This year's judges included Shereen Ritchie, Managing Director of Kuvi Hospitality; Clement Ogbonnaya MBE, Founder of the Village People Pub Company; Laure Bornet, SVP of International Growth at OpenTable; and Junior Lewis, Global Hospitality Client Consultant at Caterer.com, alongside other senior industry leaders.
The shortlist comprises 60 finalists across 15 categories, representing seven regions of the UK and more than ten cuisines. It brings together talent from major restaurant and hotel groups alongside independent restaurants, bars and hospitality businesses, celebrating established leaders, emerging professionals and the next generation of industry talent.
Founder of Be Inclusive Hospitality, Lorraine Copes, said: "The BIH Spotlight Awards celebrate some of the very best talent in our sector, but they also shine a light on the breadth of opportunities that hospitality offers. This year's finalists demonstrate that there is no single route into our industry or to success. Whether you aspire to be a chef, restaurateur, general manager, people professional, or drinks expert, hospitality offers rewarding careers for people with a wide range of skills, ambitions and backgrounds. I hope these finalists inspire the next generation to see what is possible."
Laure Bornet, SVP International Growth at OpenTable, said: "Hospitality is at its best when every kind of talent can be seen, celebrated and championed, and that's exactly what the BIH Spotlight Awards do. This year's finalists showcase the creativity, leadership and ambition driving our sector forward, and at a time of real pressure for the industry, backing them matters more than ever. That's why we're proud to return to partner with Be Inclusive Hospitality in building a more representative and inclusive future for hospitality."
Bringing together 350 guests from across the UK, the ceremony will celebrate the outstanding individuals and businesses shaping the future of hospitality. The evening will feature an awards presentation, canapés, drinks and fundraising activities, reinforcing the BIH Spotlight Awards' position as the UK's leading celebration of diversity in hospitality.
The awards also welcome back Moët Hennessy, Decanter, Rémy Cointreau, Caterer.com and Deliveroo as returning sponsors, while Unox, Roxy Leisure and Electrolux Professional join the line up.
Tickets for the BIH Spotlight Awards can be purchased here.
The 2026 Finalists
INDIVIDUAL CATEGORIES
Chef of the Year — Sponsored by Caterer.com
Kareem Roberts — The Burleigh Arms
Chinelo Awa — Good Cake Day
Kanthi Thamma — The Spice Circuit/Tiger Eats
Ayesha Kalaji — Queen of Cups
Rising Star — Sponsored by Matthew Clark Bibendum
N'jhell Wilson, General Manager — Bleecker
Natalia Middleton, Head of Food Education — Food Behind Bars
Dijön Bascombe, Chef & Founder — Dijön Cafe, London
Jhané Gibson — Chef
Writer of the Year
Ankita Neotia — Crispy Compass
Safiya Robinson — Sisterwoman
Anna Ansari
Ruchira Neotia — Ruchira's Table
Wine Professional of the Year — Sponsored by Decanter
Anoushica Matthews — MJ Wine Cellars & Sweet Spice
Shehnaz Hansraj — Presenter of A–Z of Wine with Shehnaz
Emmanuel Mireku — Manny Does Wine
Toni Osoba — Toni's Wine Club
Beverage Professional of the Year —Sponsored by Moët Hennessy U.K
Eron Mibo — Tales & Tails
Marverine Cole — Accredited Beer Sommelier
Ruchira Neotia — Drinks Consultant
Marcy Ecoue — Marcy’s Mixes
Head Office Impact — Sponsored by Unox
Kethi Taitt, Senior Human Resources Officer — The Park Tower Knightsbridge
Patsy Ankrah, Inclusion and Diversity Lead — Nando's UK & Ireland
Bertha Dewi, People & Culture Manager — The Wolseley Hospitality Group
Priya Narain, Head of Purpose & Programmes — KERB+
CUISINE CATEGORIES
African Food — Sponsored by The Voice
Chishuru
Gwafu Vegan
Shwen Shwen
The Flygerians
Caribbean Food — Sponsored by The Voice
2210 by NattyCanCook
Paradise Cove
Windrush Cuisine
Jam Delish
East and Southeast Asian Food
Michael Wan's Mandarin
Poon's London
Namo
Liu Xiaomian
South Asian Food
Bindas Eatery
Darjeeling Express
Rinku Dutt
Third Culture Kat
Middle Eastern Food
Queen of Cups
Fattoush, Leicester
Mouna's Kitchen
Samarkand Palav
BUSINESS CATEGORIES
Bar/Pub of the Year — Sponsored by OpenTable
House of MOBO
Bar Lotus
The Regency Club
Tiki Bar Restaurant
Brand of the Year — Sponsored by Electrolux Professional
Borough 22 Doughnuts
Flake Bake
Chaps
2210 by NattyCanCook
PEOPLE'S CHOICE CATEGORIES
Voting for the People's Choice awards is now open via the link, allowing the public to champion their favourite restaurant and hospitality professional from the finalist shortlists.
People's Choice Person of the Year — Sponsored by Deliveroo
Nathaniel Mortley — 2210 by NattyCanCook
Chris Ilankovan — MOTHER Canteen
Sting Khumalo — The Biltmore Mayfair
Jocelyn Wong — Canopy by Hilton London City
People's Choice Restaurant of the Year — Sponsored by OpenTable
Darjeeling Express
Chuku's
Cavita Restaurant
Chishuru
Voting for the People’s Choice awards closes on 14th August at 11:59pm.
Notes to Editor
About Be Inclusive Hospitality
Be Inclusive Hospitality is a not-for-profit social enterprise with a mission to accelerate inclusion and belonging across the hospitality industry. It drives action through research, empowers its community through funded initiatives, and partners with organisations committed to fostering inclusion. Founded by Lorraine Copes in 2020, the organisation builds on her distinguished career spanning over 20 years in the industry, during which she held executive leadership roles at Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, The Wolseley Hospitality Group, and Shake Shack.
About OpenTable
OpenTable, a global leader in restaurant tech and part of Booking Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG), helps more than 70,000 restaurants worldwide fill 2 billion seats a year. OpenTable’s world-class technology empowers restaurants to focus on what matters most – their team, their guests, and their bottom line – while enabling diners to discover and book the perfect restaurant for every occasion.
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