More than 140 judges, selected for their expertise and industry knowledge, met at London’s Dorchester and Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park hotels earlier this month for four days of lively debate and discussion to whittle down the nominees for the 22 categories.

This year three new award categories were introduced: Best Employer Award, Wine & Spirit Ambassador Award and the International Award, the latter recognising an individual who has had an impact on the global hospitality industry, whether in cheffing, hotels or foodservice.

For the first time, the Craft Guild of Chefs is sponsoring the Chef Award and the nominees for this category are: Sat Bains, Restaurant Sat Bains, Nottingham; Tom Kerridge, The Hand & Flowers, Marlow; Andrew Fairlie, Andrew Fairlie at Gleneagles, Auchterarder; and Nathan Outlaw, Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, Rock, Cornwall.

The winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony on July 1 at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.

The shortlisted nominees are:
Accessibility Award
Jurys Inn Brighton
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London

Best Employer Award
Cartford Inn, Near Poulton-Le-Fylde, Lancashire
Coworth Park, Ascot, Berkshire
De Vere Venues
Village Urban Resorts & De Vere Hotels

Best Marketing Campaign
Crowne Plaza, Reading
Harbour & Jones
University Of Leeds

Best Use of Technology
8 Northumberland Avenue
Ariane Systems
Genuine Dining Co

Chef Award
Sat Bains, Restaurant Sat Bains, Nottingham
Tom Kerridge, The Hand & Flowers, Marlow
Andrew Fairlie, Andrew Fairlie At Gleneagles, Auchterarder
Nathan Outlaw, Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, Rock, Cornwall

Education & Training Award
Geoff Booth, Westminster Kingsway College
David Mckown, University Of Sheffield
Sue Parfett, The Brookwood Partnership

Foodservice Caterer Award
Caroline Fry, Ch&Co
Sue Parfett, The Brookwood Partnership
Paul Robottom, Caterplus
Andrew Wilson & Caroline Vale, Wilson Vale

Health & Nutrition Award
Bartlett Mitchell
Ihg
Ch&Co

Hotel of the Year – Group
The Caledonian – A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Edinburgh
The Midland Hotel, Manchester
The Grand Central, Glasgow

Hotel of the Year – Independent
Congham Hall Hotel, Grimston, Norfolk
Atlantic Hotel, St Brelade, Jersey
Great Northern Hotel, London

Manager of the Year
Erick Kervaon, Bingham, Richmond
Nick Holmes, Rockliffe Hall, Darlington
Peter Avis, Babylon at The Roof Gardens, London

Newcomer Award
The Truscott Arms, London
Genuine Dining Co
Red True Bbq

Pub & Bar Award
Josh Eggleton, The Pony & Trap
Tom Peake, Nick Fox & Mark Reynolds, Renaissance Pubs
Alex Reilley, Loungers

Public Sector Caterer Award
Julie Barker, TUCO (The University Caterers Organisation)
Mark Davies, ISS Facility Services
Mary Wedge, Talkington Bates Midlands

Restaurant of the Year – Group
Tim Bacon & Jeremy Roberts, Living Ventures
Mark Selby & Thomasina Miers, Wahaca
Karen Forrester, TGI Friday’s

Restaurant of the Year – Independent
Jason Atherton, Pollen Street Social
Angela Hartnett, Murano
Simon Mullins & Ben Tish, Salt Yard
Karam Sethi, Gymkhana Restaurants

Sustainable Business Award
Lussmanns Fish & Grill Restaurants, St Albans
Ode True Food, Teignmouth
The Brookwood Partnership

Wine & Spirit Ambassador Award
Gerard Basset, Terravina, New Forest
Craig Bancroft, Northcote Group
Xavier Rousset, Texture & 28°-50°
Andrew Fisher, The Abbey Hotel, Bath

Menu of the Year Award
To be announced in May