30 under 30: Acorn Award winners 2015 announced

The winners of this year's Acorn Awards have been announced, in celebration of 30 of the industry's most promising stars aged under 30.

 

The group is set to officially receive the ACT Clean-sponsored Acorn Awards today, at a prize giving lunch held at the four-star, 70-bedroom, AA-Rosette Foxhills hotel in Surrey. They will be presented by The Caterer editor Amanda Afiya, and co-founder and director of ACT Clean, John Stevenson.

 

Spanish chef-founder of three-strong London-based group Tapas Revolution, 2012 Acorn winner Omar Allibhoy, will also address the winners.

 

The annual awards seek to highlight and celebrate the achievements of 30 brightest prospects, with each winner nominated by their peers for their outstanding ability in their field.

 

This year's winners come from a wide variety of sectors and departments, and include hotel and HR managers, front-of-house trainers, and head chefs from high-end restaurants, luxury hotels, and catering operations at sports stadia and events venues.

 

The winners arrived at the hotel and spa on Sunday, for a celebratory weekend including a welcome dinner plus a team-building exercise led by activity organisers Team Spirit, testing their problem-solving, strategy, and teamwork skills.

 

There were also welcome speeches from Afiya, and general manager of Foxhills, Jason Adams, as well as an evening drinks reception and dinner.

 

Close to the M25 and Heathrow Airport, Foxhills hotel is housed in a 19th century mansion, within 400 acres of grounds, and features a spa and healthclub plus the Manor restaurant, the Summerhouse restaurant, and the Nineteen bar and brasserie.

 

The 2015 Acorn Award winners are:

 

Mafalda Albuquerque
Value Centre general manager,
Amba hotel Charing Cross

 

Allister Barsby
Head chef, Gidleigh Park

 

Steven Beattie
General manager, Sunderland AFC, Centerplate UK

 

Rachael Brazier
Hotel manager, the Pig in the Wall, Southampton

 

Alexandra Brown
Deputy hotel manager, Campanile hotel Milton Keynes

 

Hamish Burn
General manager, 200 Aldersgate, Lexington Catering

 

Laura Cameron
Group operations manager, the Nettleton Collection

 

Jack Cohn
General manager, Kensington Place restaurant, D&D London

 

Paul Dutton
HR manager, London Marriott hotel Maida Vale

 

Megan Fairclough
Food and beverage manager,
Macdonald Manchester hotel & spa

 

Danielle Faustino
Head of training (director), Mozzo Coffee

 

Gareth Ferreira
Sommelier, Launceston Place restaurant, D&D London

 

Vida Forsyth
Operations executive, Premier Inn Leeds East

 

Dawn Hardy
HR manager, the London Edition

 

Kayleigh Holmes
Head of staffing operations and HR,
Emirates Stadium, Delaware North

 

Craig Jackson
Hotel manager, Northcote

 

Sarah Kaplan
Front office manager, the London Edition

 

Sarah Kelly
Operations manager, Premier Inn Deansgate Locks

 

Tom Lawson
Chef-patron, Rafters Restaurant

 

Oliver Milne-Watson
Revenue and reservations manager,
The Beaumont, London

 

Sarah Moss
Human resources manager, London Marriott hotel
Grosvenor Square

 

Daniele Quattromini
Manager, Club Lounge 39, Lusso Catering, CH&Co

 

Amy Roberts
Head of nutrition and education,
Chartwells, Compass Group

 

Rebecca Rowe
General catering manager, Thomas Miller,
Lexington Catering

 

Jane Shakeshaft
General manager, Mansion House, CH&CO

 

William Simmonds
Group general manager, Champneys

 

Amelia Thornhill
Restaurant manager, the Plough Inn, Longparish

 

Sarah Walsh
Front office manager, the Chesterfield Mayfair

 

Natasha Wiggins
Front office trainer, Red Carnation Hotels

 

Adam Woof
Operations manager, the Chancellors Collection,
The University of Manchester