Be Inclusive Hospitality unveils shortlist for 2025 Spotlight Awards

Be Inclusive Hospitality (BIH) has announced the finalists for its fourth BIH Spotlight Awards.

 

The awards recognise the exceptional talent of Black, Asian and ethnic minority individuals working across the UK hospitality industry.

 

In excess of 300 nominations were submitted from across the country, which were judged by a panel of more than 20 hospitality experts, including BBQ chef and writer Melissa Thompson, chief executive of Umbrella Training Adele Oxberry and writer Anna Sulan Masing.

 

The ceremony will be held on Monday 13 October at Quaglino’s in London.

 

Lorraine Copes, founder of Be Inclusive Hospitality, said: “I may well say this every year, but since I am not part of the judging process, it truly is the case. I reviewed the finalists with genuine intrigue and excitement.

 

“The finalist list spans the UK, with representation from Northern Ireland, Wales and across England from Sunderland to Sussex. The quality of entries for individuals and businesses is at an all-time high. I am delighted that these awards are recognised so widely, as this has always been my intention.”

 

Last year, 15 winners were crowned at the third edition of the BIH Spotlight Awards including chef Dom Taylor, Nikita Mathew of Burger & Lobster and Davina Dhami at Leonardo Royal Hotel Birmingham.

 

The finalists for the 2025 BIH Spotlight Awards

 

Chef of the Year

Chef Ben Allen – The Parakeet Pub

Emmanuel Offei – HMP Wormwood Scrubs

Ayesha Kalaji – Queen of Cups

Nina Matsunaga – The Black Bull Inn, Sedbergh

 

Rising Star

Jenny Barry – Jenny’s Jerk Chicken

Nazli Ramadan – Jurkish

Eron Mibo – Tales and Tails UK

Angelo Gonzalez – Shakara

 

Writer of the Year 

Tasha Marikkar

Angela Hui

Sunny Hodge

Angela Zaher

 

Wine Professional of the Year

Shane Jones – wine and sake educator

Shivani Tomar – Decanter

Heidi Nam Knudsen – A Thousand Decisions

Leona De Pasquale – Camellia and Vine

 

Beverage Innovator of the Year

Chris Crocker – Good Koffee

Tina Chen – HumaniTea

Sherwin Acebuche – Tarsier Southeast Asian Spirit

Femi Aseru – Mothers & Suns Kombucha 

 

Head Office Impact

Jayeeta Palit – Climpson & Sons

Jane Wilson – PPHE Hotel Group

Gina Knight – Flat Iron Steak

Kan Koo – Cosmo Group

 

African Food

Ngwafu Tansie – Gwafuvegan

Hammed Obikoya – Mama Bobo

Michelle Igwilo – Ogoisfooding

Khadim Mane – Little Baobab

 

Caribbean Food

Jordan Johnson – Jam Delish

Nikki Whyte – Patois

Ryan McVay – The Calabash Tree 

Tyron Salih – Twerk ‘N’ Jerk 

 

East and Southeast Asian Food

Guirong Wei – Master Wei

Kaneda Pen – Mamapen

Haydon Wong – Cantoast

Wenjun Xiang – Xi Home Dumplings Bay

 

South Asian Food

Kanthi Thamma – The Spice Circuit 

Sohini Banerjee – Smoke and Lime

Raj Radia – Raj Foods

Ranji Thangiah, Rosh Olivelle, Thana Sivasambu, Krish Puwanarajah – Sri Lankan Culture Collective

 

Middle Eastern Food

Sara Kiani – Kiani Tea 

Shadia Al Hili – Cuzena

Jad Youssef – Lebnani Restaurant

Mona Roudsari – Rzari Foods

 

Bar/Pub of the Year

Sly Augustin – Trailer Happiness

Ryan Chetiyawardana – Seed Library

Deano Moncrieffe – Hacha Bar

Gento Torigata – Waltz Bar

 

Brand of the Year

Creative Nature

The Flygerians

Zimasa Vodka

Hot ‘N’ Juicy Shrimp LDN 

 

People’s Choice Person of the Year

Mauritz Borg – The Kernel Brewery 

Sadish Lalli – Leonardo Royal Hotel Birmingham

Gina Knight – Flat Iron

Emanuele Mensah – The Connaught Bar

 

People’s Choice Restaurant of the Year

Sham Mahabir – Limin Southbank

Pino Edward Sinaga – Toba

Maria Bradford – Shwen Shwen

Nora Gower – Nora’s Kitchen