2024 Acorn Award winners revealed

Thirty of the hospitality industry’s rising stars under the age of 30 have been honoured at the 2024 Acorn Awards.

The event, which is run by The Caterer and sponsored by CH&Co, is now in its 38th year and recognises some of the top up-and-coming talent across the sector, all of whom are nominated by their peers.

The recipients gathered on Sunday (7 June) for their winners’ weekend at the Belfry Hotel & Resort in Sutton Coldfield, which is home to the British Masters golf tournament.

Winners were treated to the Belfry’s hospitality and formed teams to compete on the hotel’s Ryder Cup-themed mini golf course.

The awards were presented by The Caterer deputy editor Caroline Baldwin and CH&Co chief operating officer Allister Richards during a special three-course lunch on Monday.

Josh Light, a 2011 Acorn Award winner and now managing director of the Sababah Company, which is behind restaurants including Miznon in Soho and Lilienblum in Old Street, also addressed the winners.

Richards said: “The Acorn Awards is without doubt a highlight of the hospitality industry calendar.

“The creativity, ambition and energy of all the winners is a magnificent reminder of how exciting and full of opportunity our industry is. While they’re all succeeding and flourishing as individuals on their own unique development pathway, they’re all empowered by a shared desire and determination to succeed and make a difference, and a sector that fully embraces diverse talent.

“As always, I’ve been blown away by the incredible achievements of each of this year’s Acorns. Early on in their hospitality careers they have shown unbounded potential, remarkable ability and vision, and they’ve laid their claim as future hospitality leaders and influencers.

“On behalf of everyone at CH&Co, our huge congratulations to them all. As headline sponsor, it’s an honour to celebrate their success and as they are the ones to watch, we can’t wait to see what they all do next.”

Each winner was nominated by their peers in the hospitality industry for their outstanding achievements and successes in their field.

The 2024 Acorn Award winners

• Daniel Bennett, general manager, Heft
• Toby Bonnett, mobilisation and project lead, BaxterStorey
• Matty Carter, conference and events sales office and reservations manager, the Grand Hotel Birmingham
• Laurissa Cook, restaurant manager and owner, Pignut
• Sam Cotton, food and beverage manager, De Vere Tortworth Court
• Anna Davies, head of marketing and communications, Thomas Franks
• Bella Davis, social media manager, Rosewood London
• Chris Davis, head chef, Company of Cooks
• Bradley Dorrington, owner/director, the Wine Cellar BSE
• Poppy Eyles, front of house manager, the Nici
• Tom Fraser, front of house manager, the Rubens at the Palace, Red Carnation Hotels
• Ben Garnett-Sinclair, head chef, Vacherin
• Tomás Gormley, chef patron, Skua
• Adam Howard, general manager, Mollie’s Motels
• Jamie Kendall, head of finance, Culinera
• Polly Lamy, head of commercial, Elior UK
• Emily Lewis, operations director, the Lewis Partnership
• Marieluise Muhlhamer, assistant food and beverage manager, Cliveden House, Iconic Luxury Hotels
• Andrew Muir, director of rooms, the Hoxton
• Lauren Murie, people operations manager, Dakota Edinburgh
• Charlie Needler, head barista, Gather & Gather
• Carlotta Pascual-Solera, hotel manager, Andrew Brownsword Hotels
• Georgia Price, training manager, Oakman Inns
• Alana Quigley, restaurant manager, Gleneagles
• Gareth Rees, food and beverage manager, the Manor House hotel
• Charlotte Shaw, head housekeeper, the Athenaeum Hotel and Residences
• Benjamin Sutton, junior events manager, the Grand Hotel Brighton
• Matthew Wallace, managing director, the Cairndale hotel
• Thomas White, operations manager, the Egerton House hotel, Red Carnation Hotels
• Sam Yorke, chef patron, Heron