2025 Winners

Many congratulations to all 2025 finalists and winners. Most categories are determined entirely by nominations and votes from the senior industry. The Rising Star, Sustainability Award and Diversity Leadership Programme categories are judged by specialist independent panels.

If you work in the UK eating and drinking out sector, these are YOUR awards. On behalf of the MCA team, it is an honour to host the most anticipated awards evening of the calendar year. Thank you to all who supported and attended.

Emerging Concept - Brother Marcus

This award celebrates a promising multi-site business that looks set to deliver scale and sustainable success.

The finalists for this award included:

  • Sandwich Sandwich
  • Permit Room
  • SushiDog
  • Nell's Pizza
  • Boojum

 

Award sponsor: Greene King

Best New Opening - Albert's Schloss, Soho

This award goes to a 2024 site opening which combines a great location, outstanding design and exceptional customer appeal.

The finalists for this award included:

  • OMA, Borough Market
  • Caravan, Manchester
  • The White Hart, Lewes
  • Ambassadors Clubhouse, London
  • AngloThai, London

 

Award sponsor: Chapman Ventilation

Best Pub Company - Urban Pubs & Bars

This category recognises an outstanding multi-site pub group, greatly admired by the senior industry for its quality proposition and strong leadership.

The finalists for this award included:

  • Young's
  • JD Wetherspoon
  • Heartwood Collection
  • Greene King
  • Fuller's
  • Loungers

 

Award sponsor: Aspall Cyder

Best Pub or Bar Concept - The Devonshire

This award recognises a brand, concept, or format, either independent or part of a wider group, which is delivering for consumers and investors alike.

The finalists for this award included:

  • Cahoots (Inception Group)
  • Drake & Morgan
  • Pergola (Incipio Group)
  • BOX (Arc Inspirations)
  • Albert's Schloss (Mission Mars)

 

Best Restaurant Company - Pizza Pilgrims

This category recognises a standout multi-site restaurant group, which demonstrates an exceptional offering and strong leadership.

The finalists for this award included:

  • Nando's
  • Dishoom
  • Pho
  • Flat Iron
  • Wagamama
  • Rudy's Pizza

 

Award sponsor: Sona

Best Coffee Shop/Café Group - Gail's

Incorporating coffee shops, cafés, dessert parlours and dine-in bakeries, this award recognises companies which have demonstrated strong growth and customer appeal.

The finalists for this award included:

  • Caffè Nero
  • WatchHouse
  • Blank Street
  • Ole & Steen
  • Knoops
  • Caravan

 

Best Experiential Concept - Flight Club

In the fast-growing space of experiential leisure, this award highlights the best-in-class competitive socialising and immersive concepts which are shaking up the hospitality sector.

The finalists for this award included:

  • Electric Shuffle
  • F1 Arcade
  • Swingers
  • Roxy Ball Room
  • Big Fang Collective

 

Deal of the Year - TDR Capital acquires controlling stake in Popeyes

This category recognises the stand-out M&A or investment event of the last 12 months, which delivers an opportunity to maximise the business’ potential.

The finalists for this award included:

  • McWin's acquisition of Sticks'n'Sushi
  • Caffè Nero's acquisition of 200 Degrees
  • Admiral's purchase of 37 Fuller's pubs
  • Amber Taverns acquired by Epiris

 

Award sponsor: Alix Partners

Consumer Choice - Greggs

In partnership with Lumina Intelligence, this award drills into data around consumer satisfaction, recommendations, and experience to highlight which brand is delivering most consistently for its customers.

The finalists for this award included:

  • Caffé Nero
  • Miller & Carter
  • Nando's UK & IRE
  • PizzaExpress
  • wagamama
  • Wetherspoons

 

Award sponsor: Lumina Intelligence

Best Use of Technology - Stonegate's media platform and app MiXR

This award goes to an operator which has led the way with innovative technology, to enhance its business and boost engagement with consumers.

The finalists for this award included:

  • McDonald's AI drive-thru technology
  • wagamama's Soul Club loyalty app
  • PizzaExpress' AI-informed loyalty scheme
  • Popeyes' voice ordering technology
  • Azzurri's Openr data platform

 

Award sponsor: Nory AI

Best Omnichannel Brand - wagamama - for its Soul Club loyalty app, optimised delivery business and retail range

This award recognises businesses which diversified into new sales channels such as digital, delivery and retail. Nominations for this category are via the MCA team, with the senior industry to decide the winner.

  • Azzurri Group - for Zizzi's in-house retail range, and Coco di Mama's multi-format expansion strategy
  • Fulham Shore - for growth in its leading The Real Greek retail range and premium Franco Manca retail pizza offering
  • Greggs - for its made to order channel, multi-format locations, and digital and loyalty schemes
  • itsu - for its tweaked loyalty scheme, B2B offer and leading retail range and meal deals
  • Leon - for its book publishing, retail range and digital offer
  • PizzaExpress - for its substantial retail business, 3m-strong loyalty app, and in-house delivery channel
Award sponsor: Vita Mojo

Best QSR Company - Wingstop UK

Recognising the impressive growth of the quick-service sector, this award goes to a brand that has demonstrated strong growth, seamless execution and exceptional value.

The finalists for this award included:

  • Popeyes
  • Five Guys
  • Greggs
  • McDonald's
  • KFC
  • Burger King
  • itsu

 

Award sponsor: Venners

Lifetime Achievement Award - Clive Watson

Decided by MCA’s editor, this award recognises the exceptional achievements and impact an individual has had on the sector over multiple decades.

Award sponsor: Brakes/Sysco

The following three categories are judged by independent specialist panels. These assess an original, evidenced submission from the business as well as an exploratory interview for each finalist, written by the MCA editorial team.

Leader of The Year - Roisin Currie, Greggs

This award recognises the outstanding leader of the year, as decided by the MCA Hospitality Awards Academy, made up of senior UK operators, suppliers and MCA subscribers.

The finalists for this award included:

  • Tom Crowley, Popeyes
  • Nick Collins, Loungers
  • Shamil Thakrar, Dishoom
  • Laura Harper-Hinton, Caravan
  • Steve Holmes, Azzurri Group

 

Award sponsor: Uber Eats

Rising Star - Ben Atkinson, Division Director, Urban Pubs & Bars

This award goes to an outstanding individual in a multi-site management team who is rising through the ranks and is seen as a future star of the business.

The finalists for this award included:

  • Vicki Appleton, Catering Director, Moto Hospitality
  • Chantelle Christy, People & Culture Director, Drake & Morgan
  • Tom Cousins, Operations Director, Rosa’s Thai
  • Poppy Midgley, Social Media Manager, Rare Restaurants
  • Clive Watkins, Managing Partner, Pizza Pilgrims

Award sponsor: Red Bull

Sustainability Award - Wahaca

This award goes to a company or brand that has gone above and beyond in demonstrating its commitment to reducing its impact on the environment.

The finalists for this award included:

  • Caravan
  • Mitchells & Butlers
  • Pizza Pilgrims
  • Punch Pubs & Co
  • Rare Restaurants
  • Shepherd Neame

Award sponsor: Pernod Ricard

Diversity Leadership Programme - Caravan

This award recognises the business which has done the most to demonstrate its commitment to promoting and supporting employees from under-represented and minority backgrounds on their journey from the front line to the boardroom.

The finalists for this award included:

  • Chopstix
  • Greene King
  • Malmaison/Hotel du Vin
  • Moto Hospitality
  • Nightcap
  • Pizza Pilgrims

Award sponsor: Britvic

 

Testimonials

"One of the best events on the calendar"

Glyn House Managing Director Caffè Nero

"The evening brings together the finest operators in the leisure and hospitality sector and is a true celebration of excellence”

Mark Derry Chief Executive Brasserie Bar Co

"It's the night in the annual calendar that you definitely get in the diary"

Simon Potts The Alchemist

‘It’s the highlight of the calendar, often referred to as the hospitality version of the Oscars

Alex Reilley chairman Loungers

Hugely validating… the cherry on the top to a great evening

Jess Campbell, head of brand, Dishoom head of brand Dishoom

We’re thrilled to be voted for by our peers, it really gives us the confidence that we’re doing the right thing

Karl Boyce, Director of Digital, McDonald’s director of digital McDonald’s

Amazing…it’s such a great award to win… most importantly, our teams are gonna love it, right’?

Laura Harper Hinton and Miles Kirby co-founders Caravan

Winning gives us the impetus to just go even bigger and better

Louise Hughes people director Moto

The recognition of industry peers is the most special part.

Neil McLeod co-owner Albert’s Schloss

This is where we meet our peers and legends of the industry. To be recognised in this room is pretty cool

Oisin Rogers, co-founder, The Devonshire co-founder The Devonshire

The highest accolade you can get

Ollie Raison, co-founder, F1 Arcade co-founder F1 Arcade

This is everything we’ve dreamed of

Sarah McDermott marketing director BrewDog Bars