2026 BIH Spotlight Awards Finalists Announced
From Michelin-starred restaurants and independent neighbourhood businesses to wine professionals, HR leaders and emerging talent, the finalists for the 2026 BIH Spotlight Awards showcase the breadth of talent shaping hospitality today.
The finalists for the fifth annual BIH Spotlight Awards have officially been announced, recognising outstanding Black and ethnic minority individuals and businesses making an impact across hospitality, food and drink in the UK.
This year’s finalists include Michelin-starred West African restaurant Chishuru, Blackpool’s much-loved Cantonese institution Michael Wan’s Mandarin, MasterChef champion Jhané Gibson, alongside professionals from some of the UK’s leading hospitality businesses.
Returning headline sponsor OpenTable, a global leader in restaurant technology, will join Be Inclusive Hospitality at Quaglino’s, London, on Monday 12 October 2026, where winners across 15 award categories will be announced.
Reflecting the breadth of hospitality
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.
This year’s shortlist includes 60 finalists across 15 award categories, representing seven regions of the UK and more than ten global cuisines.
The awards recognise talent across every corner of hospitality. Categories range from Chef of the Year, Wine Professional of the Year and Head Office Impact, to cuisine awards celebrating African Food, Caribbean Food, East & Southeast Asian Food, South Asian Food and Middle Eastern Food. They also recognise hospitality businesses through Bar/Pub of the Year and Brand of the Year, alongside the public-voted People’s Choice Awards.
Rather than recognising one route to success, the BIH Spotlight Awards reflect the many different careers, businesses and specialisms that make hospitality one of the UK’s most diverse industries.
Meet the 2026 Finalists
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+
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
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
Alongside the judged categories, the public can once again decide the winners of two People’s Choice Awards:
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 is now open and closes at 11:59 pm on Friday 14 August 2026.
Join us on Monday 12th October 2026
The 2026 BIH Spotlight Awards will take place on Monday 12 October 2026 at Quaglino’s, London, bringing together more than 300 guests from across the hospitality industry for an evening celebrating the people and businesses helping to shape its future.