2025 Cateys Shortlist
In a milestone year for the biggest awards of their kind in the hospitality industry, the internationally renowned Cateys will recognise the strongest performers, latest emerging brands and highest flyers in the sector, as determined by the industry itself. More than 100 judges, chosen for their expertise and industry knowledge, and past success as Catey winners themselves, met for three days of intense debate to discuss the nominees and produce our shortlist. The winners, representing British hospitality at its best, will be revealed at a glittering event on 7 July at JW Marriott Grosvenor House London, click here to book your table.
The Best Marketing Campaign Award is open to hotel, restaurant, leisure or foodservice operators that have launched innovative, creative and effective campaigns to promote their products and drive custom and business. Entrants will need to submit details of their campaign's strategic goal, deliverables and success criteria. Judges will be looking for clear and quantifiable campaign goals, measurable objectives, implementation details and evidence of return on investment. Entries in this category may be for an independent business, a single unit within a group or an entire group.
Kerb
Northcote, Lancashire
Rudy's Pizza
The Grove, Hertfordshire
The Best Use of Innovative Technology Award is open to hotel, restaurant, leisure or foodservice operators that have realised efficiencies or driven new business through the development or deployment of innovative and creative information, engineering or equipment technologies. Entries can be for a single business or a group of units. They will be accepted from executives responsible for managing or employing the technology described. Entries must be for project live dates or equipment specification undertaken no more than 18 months before the closing date of entries.
Proudly sponsored by:
Delaware North UK
Levy UK & Ireland at Birmingham City FC
Point A Hotels
The Swan Hotel & Spa, Ulverston
This award is open to chefs from all sectors of the industry. It recognises individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the industry. The recipient must have made a major contribution through innovation in cooking techniques, styles of cuisine and the understanding of culinary processes. The award recognises a wider contribution to the trade, through significant and effective involvement in the fields of education, charity or the general promotion of the industry's interests. Although the award winner may not be an ever-present figure in his or her own kitchen, it is expected that the recipient will be taking a strong and significant role in the day-to-day operations of an outlet or outlets.
Proudly sponsored by:
Adam Byatt, Trinity, London
Mark Birchall, Moor Hall, Lancashire
Nieves Barragán Mohacho, Sabor, London
Spencer Metzger, Row on 5, London
Tom Sellers, Restaurant Story, London
This award will go to someone who has demonstrated an innovative approach to continuous learning with particular regard to the needs of the hospitality industry in the UK. They will have developed initiatives in training that have added value and demonstrated an ability to adapt to the changing needs of the market. They may come from any area of the hospitality industry.
Edward Gallier, Leonardo Hotels
Samantha Hockey and Duncan Limbert, Sodexo
Wade Dutton, Sodexo Live!
The Foodservice Caterer Award will go to an individual working within the private or event sector who has made an outstanding contribution. The winner will possess the ability to combine innovation with sound financial performance as well as being able to demonstrate clear achievements.
Matt Wood, Lexington Catering
Paul Jackson, Searcys
Simon Houston and Dave Hawkes, Houston & Hawkes
The Hotel of the Year - Group category is open to any group hotel of any size and at any market level that demonstrates excellence in its chosen market, consistency of product and service, success as a business, present a healthy balance sheet and particular achievements in the past year. It is open to any hotel that is operated as part of a branded group with four or more units.
2024 winner: The Langham, London
Proudly sponsored by:
Art'otel Battersea, London
Brown's Hotel, a Rocco Forte Hotel, London
DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central
Hilton London Metropole
Langdale Chase, Windermere
The Hotel of the Year - Independent will be a business of three units or fewer under a brand or owner. It will be a successful business of any size, category or market level; show excellence in its chosen market; offer an example to which others can aspire; present a healthy balance sheet and be able to demonstrate particular achievements in the past year.
Proudly sponsored by:
Lympstone Manor, Exmouth
Swinton Estate, Ripon
The Belfry Hotel & Resort, Sutton Coldfield
The Nici, Bournemouth
Wildhive Callow Hall, Ashbourne
The winning candidate will have demonstrated proven success in managing and developing a team in the workplace; established a good financial track record and proved their worth over and above the job description, particularly in the past year. Nominations are invited from all sectors of the industry and from all managerial levels.
Chris Eigelaar, the Belfry Hotel & Resort, Sutton Coldfield
Damien Martin, the Parkgate hotel, Cardiff
Mark Whelan, Eurest
Michael Voigt, the Goring, London
The Newcomer Award is open to all people in the industry who have taken a risk and seized an opportunity and made a name for themselves. The winner will own a business that has been operating for less than three years on 5 July 2025 and have established a reputation for quality and service. This will be their first owner-operator hospitality-based business. Candidates can be from any sector of the industry.
Pignut, York
Skof, Manchester
Sonnet Restaurant, Alnwick
Sune, London
The Pub and Bar Award is open to people who run, own or manage a pub or pub chain with a food element. The judges are looking for sound business planning and a good grasp of financial matters. Flair and innovation are also important. The winner must commit to staff training, customer service and show involvement in the community.
Chestnut
JKS Restaurants (Pubs)
The Loch & the Tyne by Adam Handling, Windsor
The Three Horseshoes, Essex
The Public Sector Caterer Award will go to an individual or organisation who has made an outstanding contribution to the cost sector. The winner will possess the ability to combine innovation with sound financial performance, as well as being able to demonstrate clear achievements. The individual or organisation will have contributed to the cost sector in the areas of healthcare, education or institutional catering.
Proudly sponsored by:
ESS
Sarah Wren, Health & Independent Living Support
Tom Pass, Culinera
This award is open to individuals who have made their mark in running system-led companies operating branded and themed food and drink outlets. They will operate three or more outlets. The judges will be looking for a solid and/or outstanding performance in the past financial year. Financial information must be provided in order to demonstrate business acumen.
2024 winner: Nisha Katona, Mowgli Street Food
Proudly sponsored by:
Jyotin, Karam and Sunaina Sethi, JKS Restaurants
Marcello Distefano, San Carlo Restaurant Group
Thom and James Elliot, Pizza Pilgrims
Candidates must demonstrate the ability to combine flair and innovation with good business acumen. They must be setting standards to which others can aspire. They may own and operate several establishments but they will not be themed or branded. The judges will be looking for a solid and/or outstanding performance in the past financial year. Financial information must be provided in order to demonstrate good business judgement.
Jonathan MacDonald, Scoop Restaurants Group
Josh and Holly Eggleton, the Pony Group
Kirk and Keeley Haworth, Plates, London
Richard Gladwin, Local & Wild
Stuart Ralston, Aizle, Noto, Tipo, Lyla, Edinburgh
Entries considered for the Sustainable Business Award will be any business with an annual turnover of more than £20m.
The Sustainable Business Award will recognise the hospitality business that has taken the most innovative steps to minimise its impact on the environment.
The award is open to any hotel, restaurant, pub, leisure or foodservice business or other hospitality operation.
2024 winner: Exclusive Collection
Proudly sponsored by:
Houston & Hawkes
Sodexo
The Hari, London
The University of Manchester
Wahaca
Entries considered for the Sustainable Business Award (SME) will be any business with an annual turnover of less than £20m.
The Sustainable Business Award (SME) will recognise the hospitality business that has taken the most innovative steps to minimise its impact on the environment.
The award is open to any hotel, restaurant, pub, leisure or foodservice business or other hospitality operation.
Proudly sponsored by:
Calcot & Spa, Tetbury, Gloucestershire
FarmED, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire
Lamington Group
Pignut, York
This award honours an individual who has made a major contribution to the knowledge, understanding and promotion of wine, Champagne and spirits in the UK hospitality industry. The recipient will display a proven track record for profiting from the sale of alcoholic beverages and training staff in effective wine service; and will demonstrate a wider commitment to their industry, through their involvement in the fields of education or charity. Our winner may work in any sector of the hospitality industry.