New Year Honours 2025: awards for Bill Toner and George McIvor  

CH&Co boss Bill Toner, chef Niall McKenna and Master Chefs of Great Britain (MCGB) chair George McIvor (pictured) are among members of the hospitality industry recognised in the King’s New Year Honours List 2025.

Designer Tom Dixon, co-creator of the Coal Office restaurant in London, was made a CBE for services to design. Meanwhile, VisitEngland advisory board member Fiona Pollard received a CBE for services to tourism.

Kan Koo, chief executive of buffet chain Cosmo Restaurant Group, was made an MBE for services to the hospitality industry, while journalist Bee Wilson received an MBE for services to food writing and food education.

McIvor has been made an OBE for services to the catering and tourism industries and charitable fundraising. 

Since he took over as chairman of the MCGB in 2006, the group’s training masterclasses have grown to reach over 1,000 apprentice and student chefs per year. McIvor also works with charities including Leukaemia UK and the Teenage Cancer Trust.

McIvor said: “I am deeply humbled to be recognised in the King’s New Year Honours List. I strongly believe in encouraging young people and children to participate in and enjoy food. Their natural inquisitiveness and eagerness to learn is something to be encouraged. I am very grateful to my fellow chefs and supporters who enable our work.”

 

Toner was made an MBE for services to the hospitality sector. During his career, he has overseen major growth leading contract caterers Aramark and CH&Co and is involved in hospitality charities including Adopt a School and the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts.

 

He told The Caterer: “To find out I was to receive an MBE was a shock and a really lovely surprise. 

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed sharing it with my family and friends over Christmas. I told them over Christmas lunch and they were thrilled. It was a real moment and something I will cherish. 

“It is wonderful to be invited to a garden party since we have been working at them for the past 15 years. Being invited with my wife Susanne will be extra special.”

McKenna received an MBE for services to hospitality and tourism and local food and drink producers in Northern Ireland. The chef owns the James St and Waterman House restaurants in Belfast and has run a chef apprenticeship scheme in partnership with Belfast Metropolitan College since 2014.

 

McKenna said: “Belfast has changed so much over the years, and I’m proud to have played a part in that. Belfast’s world-famous hospitality has put our city on the map. We now have a restaurant and food scene here to rival the best on a national and international stage."

 

Esther Brittan, HR operations manager UK&I at Hilton, was made an MBE for volunteering and charity services to young people. She manages Hilton’s partnerships with organisations that help people into work, including the Springboard Charity, Only a Pavement Away, Aurora Foxes and the Down’s Syndrome Association’s WorkFit programme.

 

She said: “It’s a privilege to work for a company that gives everyone a chance to showcase their value and thrive at work. Hilton places huge emphasis on the importance of celebrating diversity and embracing inclusion, and building an inclusive culture is a true team effort.

 

"We have achieved so much together, and I look forward to helping more people facing barriers to employment to find their place in our incredible industry in the coming years.”

More than 1,200 people received honours this year across all sectors.

Recipients of 2025 honours in the hospitality and food sectors

CBE

Annika Bosanquet, co-founder, Wrapology packaging firm. For services to business

Tom Dixon OBE, designer. For services to design

Fiona Pollard, board member, VisitEngland Advisory Board. For services to tourism

 

OBE

John Evans, executive chair, Beanies the Flavour Company. For services to entrepreneurship

Dr David Gott, principal toxicologist, Food Standards Agency. For services to food safety

Sarah Jane Green, chief executive officer, NewcastleGateshead Initiative. For services to tourism

George McIvor, chef and chair Master Chefs of Great Britain. For services to the catering and tourism industries and to charitable fundraising

Steven John Wearne, director of global affairs, Food Standards Agency and chair of Codex. For services to public health protection and to international food safety

MBE

 

Esther Brittan, HR operations manager UK&I at Hilton. For volunteering and charity services to young people.

Younis Chaudhry, owner and founder, Regal Food Products Plc. For services to business and to the community in Bradford

Duncan Farrington, farmer and founder, Farrington Oils. For services to agricultures and to the food and drink industry

Kan Koo, chief executive, Cosmo Restaurant Group. For services to the hospitality industry

Dr William Lumsden, director of distilling, whisky creation and whisky stocks, the Glenmorangie company. For services to the scotch whisky industry

Jonathan McDowell, founder Indie Fude. For services to the food and drink industry in Northern Ireland

Niall McKenna, chef and owner, James St and Waterman House. For services to hospitality and tourism, and to local food and drink producers in Northern Ireland

Roman Petrucci, café owner and volunteer. For services to the community in Stranraer

Pamela Susan Thiedeman, lately head of culture and visitor economy, Barnsley council. For services to culture and to heritage in South Yorkshire

 

Ian Michael Thomas, director, NewcastleGateshead Initiative. For services to tourism

Bill Toner, chief executive officer, Hospitality Group of Companies. For services to the hospitality sector

Bee Wilson, food writer and journalist. For services to food writing and food education

Medallists of the order of the British empire

Alaa Mohammed Ali Habbooby, owner, Café Noir. For services to the community in Thames Ditton, Surrey

Sarah Kelly, unit catering supervisor, education authority Northern Ireland. For services to education catering in the primary school sector in Northern Ireland

Roberta Ruth Quinn, catering manager, Youth Justice Agency. For services to the youth justice system

Kathleen Elaine Stout, lunch club volunteer, Royal Voluntary Service. For charitable services