The Black Bull’s Nina Matsunaga among the winners at Be Inclusive Hospitality Awards 2025

Be Inclusive Hospitality (BIH) has revealed the winners of its fourth BIH Spotlight Awards.

 

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

 

During a ceremony at London’s Quaglino’s last night (13 October), 16 winners were announced, including Chef of the Year for Nina Matsunaga from the Black Bull Inn, Sedbergh, and the Head Office Impact accolade, where Flat Iron Steak’s Gina Knight triumphed.

 

Knight called on others to join her as a BIH mentor, describing it as one of her “proudest moments”. “You can work internally in your business and support all the restaurants that you have, but there are people out there doing amazing things in incredible businesses,” she said.

 

“When you work for a minority group, you can have less access to some of the support network, and I’m really proud of being part of the journey of being a mentor because it gives founders, chefs and restaurant owners an opportunity for people who work in head office to extend some of their services and expertise to them.”

 

Kanthi Thamma, owner of the Spice Circuit in Hove, dedicated his win in the South Asian Food category to his mother “for all the sacrifices she made for me” and said: “For all those young ones who have been struggling to identify themselves for what they want to be in their life, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, just dream, believe and achieve.”

 

Fourteen categories were judged by a panel of 21 hospitality experts, including BBQ chef and writer Melissa Thompson, chief executive of Umbrella Training Adele Oxberry and writer Anna Sulan Masing. Meanwhile, 2,000 votes were cast in to decide the two People’s Choice Awards winners.

 

Sham Mahabir from Limin Southbank in London topped the poll in the People’s Choice Restaurant of the Year category. As he collected his trophy, he said: “Limin started seven years ago as a pop up for 10 weeks. We have lived through Brexit, Covid and the cost of living crisis, and today we stand proud as the only Caribbean restaurant in central London.”

 

He dedicated the award to the Windrush generation, adding: “They paved the way for where I am today.”

 

Lorraine Copes, founder of Be Inclusive Hospitality, told the event’s hundreds of guests: “Whilst it’s really important that we are here to celebrate many people within the industry, it’s also really important to recognise why BIH started, which is because of the disparity that exists.

 

“Ultimately, we recognise that it’s incumbent on us all to play a role on building a more inclusive hospitality industry.”

 

BIH Spotlight Awards 2025 winners

 

Chef of the Year Nina Matsunaga – The Black Bull Inn, Sedbergh

 

Rising Star Eron Mibo – Tales and Tails UK

 

Writer of the Year Angela Zaher

 

Wine Professional of the Year Leona De Pasquale – Camellia and Vine

 

Beverage Innovator of the Year Sherwin Acebuche – Tarsier Southeast Asian Spirit

 

Head Office Impact Gina Knight – Flat Iron Steak

 

African Food Khadim Mane – Little Baobab

 

Caribbean Food Nikki Whyte – Patois

 

East and Southeast Asian Food Kaneda Pen – Mamapen

 

South Asian Food Kanthi Thamma – The Spice Circuit 

 

Middle Eastern Food Jad Youssef – Lebnani Restaurant

 

Bar/Pub of the Year Deano Moncrieffe – Hacha Bar

 

Brand of the Year Hot ‘N’ Juicy Shrimp LDN 

 

Industry Icon Tevin Tobun

 

People’s Choice Person of the Year Emanuele Mensah – the Connaught Bar

 

People’s Choice Restaurant of the Year Sham Mahabir – Limin Southbank

 

Be Inclusive Hospitality was founded in 2020 with the aim of creating an inclusive and fair hospitality sector.