2022 Acorn Award winners revealed

The winners of the 36th Acorn Awards have been revealed, celebrating 30 of the industry's most talented stars aged under 30.

The Acorn Award recipients gathered today at the start of their Acorn winners’ weekend at Rudding Park. The hotel in Harrogate has a spa, two restaurants, a kitchen garden, private cinema, golf courses and conference space, all set in 300 acres of landscaped gardens and woodland.

The winners will enjoy the expert hospitality of Rudding Park and attend a prize-giving lunch tomorrow to collect their trophies in the company of the Acorn Award’s sponsor, CH&Co, their nominators and Acorn judges. They will be presented by The Caterer managing editor Lisa Jenkins and CH&Co chief operating officer Allister Richards.

Acorn Award winners Charlotte Horler, deputy general manager of the Grand in Birmingham, and her father James Horler, chief executive of Ego Restaurants, will also address the winners.

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

Richards said: “The announcement of the Acorn Award winners is always a joyful occasion. In a time when we could easily get bogged down by ever-present pressures – from rising inflation and supply chain issues to the relentless labour shortages – it offers a welcome reminder of what makes the hospitality industry so inspiring and great.

"The Acorn Awards shine a light on the positive innovation, opportunity and energy that define our industry. While our winners may represent different hospitality sectors and be on separate career paths, they have much in common. They have the intrinsic qualities that will see them become successful, compelling and inclusive leaders – creativity, resilience, dedication, flair, agility, authenticity and much more.

"Congratulations to the 2022 Acorn Awards winners from everyone at CH&Co, we look forward to following their continued progression.”

Peter Banks, managing director, at Rudding Park, added: “We are delighted that we have been able to tempt the 2022 Acorn Award winners to Rudding Park, and it is a privilege that we have the chance to look after some of the rising stars of our industry. Each of the winners will take away a living souvenir of their stay with us in the form of a small oak tree, and we will be planting an Acorn Winners' wood on the golf course this winter as a living memory that will last for centuries.”

Each winner of the annual event was nominated by their senior team and peers for outstanding achievements and successes in their field.

The 2022 Acorn Award winners

• Miles Baxter, group general manager, Houston & Hawkes
• Lily Bell, account manager, BaxterStorey
• Connor Black, head chef, the Bull & Bear
• Jordan Burdall, golf academy manager, Rudding Park
• Josh Chadwick, hotel manager, the Tawny
• Graeme Cumine, restaurant manager, L’Enclume
• Ethan Davids, co-owner, Chickpea Group
• John Dickson, hotel manager, Dakota Hotels
• Dorya Djebbar, people partner, CH&CO
• Laura Dunphy, training and development manager, Cameron House on Loch Lomond
• Chara Forrest, resident manager, the Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa
• Ruth Hansom, head chef, Princess of Shoreditch
• Kumiko Hiwatari, premier pastry sous chef, the Ritz London
• Jacques Hobson, food and beverage manager, the Belfry Hotel & Resort
• Craig Johnston, head chef, Marcus
• Serafin Kapusta, food and beverage operations manager, InterContinental London Park Lane
• Timothy Kendall, chef proprietor, T and T Pubs
• Tabitha Kirby, deputy account manager, BaxterStorey
• Will Lockwood, head chef, Roots York
• Lilian Lubowitz, group sales manager, CH&CO
• Deepak Mallya, premier sous chef, the Ritz London
• Veikko Paananen, restaurant director, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park London
• April Lily Partridge, sous chef, the Ledbury
• Ryan Percopo, executive head chef, BaxterStorey
• Sophie Shotton, general manager, Yorebridge House
• Claire Small, director of innovation, Elior UK
• Lydia Staniforth, recruitment marketing specialist, Delaware North
• Ewen Thomas, general manager, Christian Conference Trust
• Victoria Tweddell, human resources business partner, PPHE Hotel Group
• Shaun Wright, revenue application and systems manager, Hand Picked Hotels