Cateys 2024: Michel Roux, Sharan Pasricha and Genuine Dining Co duo win top awards

Chef Michel Roux and Genuine Dining Co’s Chris Mitchell and Robbie Laidlaw took home the top gongs at the 2024 Catey awards.

Roux was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award during the ceremony at JW Marriott Grosvenor House London, attended by some of the country’s top hospitality operators on Tuesday evening.

He was recognised for his storied career that saw him helm two-Michelin-starred Le Gavroche in Mayfair for 34 years as well as nurture the careers of countless young chefs through the Roux Scholarship.

The Special Award went to Mitchell and Laidlaw, the chief executive and business development director of Genuine Dining Co respectively, who rowed 3,000 miles across the Atlantic in December to raise over £250,000 for Hospitality Action.

Mark Lewis, chief executive of Hospitality Action, said: “Over the years, supporters have found weird, wonderful and plain jawdropping ways to raise funds for Hospitality Action. But none has inspired such awe as the challenge Chris and Robbie bit off, in 2023.

“To give some sense of the scale of their achievement, fewer people have rowed the Atlantic than have scaled Everest.

“The journey tested Chris and Robbie’s physical, mental and emotional resilience to the limit. They lived to a gruelling ‘eat, sleep, row, repeat’ rhythm and confronted mountainous waves, vicious sea storms, sleep deprivation, an errant navigation system and even a capsize in the dead of night. That they faced down all these challenges to fundraise for Hospitality Action is deeply humbling.”

Sharan Pasricha won the International Outstanding Achievement Award. Since 2011 he has built Ennismore into a global business, expanded the Hoxton hotel brand and overseen the reinvention of Gleneagles – which itself won the Best Employer Award Catey.

Helle Jensen was named Manager of the Year in recognition of her 26 years running the Covent Garden hotel, while the Chef Award went to Aktar Islam, who was praised by judges as a “great ambassador for the industry”.

Meanwhile, Adam Handling was named Restaurateur of the Year – Independent, while Nisha Katona’s Mowgli took home the gong for Restaurateur of the Year – Group.

The Caterer editor James Stagg said: “It has been incredibly special to welcome the industry’s finest operators back to Grosvenor House once again.

“This year’s winners showcase the drive and determination of hospitality. Whether operators are rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic, speaking out about the sector’s challenges or training the next generation, we’re proud to celebrate all their achievements.

“It’s extra special for us to recognise Michel Roux, who has always embodied the best qualities of the industry. There are countless people across hospitality who owe their careers to the Roux family and Le Gavroche, so we feel this is a fitting tribute.”

Cateys guests enjoyed a summer feast designed by Le Manoir’s chef patron Raymond Blanc and cooked by head chef Luke Selby, chef pâtissier Benoit Blin and their brigade.

The 2024 Cateys winners

Best Employer Award – sponsored by Korero

Gleneagles

Best Marketing Campaign Award – sponsored by Venners

Kerb at Seven Dials Market

Best Use of Technology Award – sponsored by Sky Business

Gather & Gather

Chef Award – sponsored by Brakes

Aktar Islam

Education and Training Award – sponsored by HRC

Peter Jones, Crumbs

Foodservice Caterer Award – sponsored by Unox

Matt Thomas, Restaurant Associates

Health and Nutrition Award – sponsored by Bidfood

Signature Dining

Hotel of the Year – Group – sponsored by Caterer.com

The Langham, London

Hotel of the Year – Independent – sponsored by Miele

Heckfield Place

Manager of the Year Award – sponsored by Sona

Helle Jensen, Covent Garden Hotel

Menu of the Year Award – sponsored by P&O Cruises

Lark, Bury St Edmunds

Newcomer Award – sponsored by Motion Picture Licensing Company

Upstairs by Tom Shepherd

Pub and Bar Award – sponsored by Winterhalter

Liberation Group

Public Sector Caterer Award – sponsored by Bidfood

Paul Robottom, Signature Dining Ltd

Restaurateur of the Year – Group – sponsored by St Ewe Eggs

Nisha Katona, Mowgli

Restaurateur of the Year – Independent – sponsored by Matthew Clark

Adam Handling, Adam Handling Restaurant Group

Sustainable Business Award – sponsored by Unox

Exclusive Collection

Wine and Spirit Ambassador Award – sponsored by IWSC

Isa Bal, Trivet

Accessibility Award – sponsored by Umbrella Training

Windmill Barns Holiday Lets

International Outstanding Achievement Award – sponsored by Compass Group UK & Ireland

Sharan Pasricha

Special Award – sponsored by CH&Co

Chris Mitchell and Robbie Laidlaw

Lifetime Achievement Award – sponsored by Seafood from Norway

Michel Roux

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