Shortlists announced for the 21st annual Peach 20/20 Hero Awards
The shortlists have been unveiled for this year’s Peach 20/20 Hero Awards, the prestigious celebration of excellence, innovation and leadership in UK hospitality.
Voted for by the Peach 20/20 ‘Academy’ of 150 invited industry leaders, the awards shine a spotlight on the very best operators, brands and individuals who are trading successfully in a highly competitive and challenging market.
This year’s finalists represent the most dynamic, forward-thinking businesses in the sector – the true “best in class”.
Scroll down for all the shortlisted businesses and brands...
YOUR 2025 SHORTLISTS
Newcomer
Bubala | Chuku’s | Dave’s Hot Chicken | Makers of Hospitality | Oma/Agora | Tigermilk
Breakout Brand
Breadstall | El Pastor | Knoops | Nell’s Pizza | Padella | Pasta Evangelists
Evolutionary Brand/Business
Beautiful Pubs | Bella Italia | Bill’s | Craft Union (Stonegate) | Prezzo Italian | Vagabond
Best New Opening
Ambassador's Clubhouse (London) | Blacklock (Manchester) | Brother Marcus (Canary Wharf) | Farmers Dog (Burford) | Rita’s Beer Hall (Leeds) | Rockfish (Salcombe)
Lounge Cafe Bar | Nando’s | Stonehouse Pizza & Carvery | The Ivy | Toby Carvery | Wagamama
EDI Champion
Caravan | Flat Iron | Greene King | JKS | Mitchells & Butlers | Moto | Mowgli | Pizza Pilgrims
Peach 20/20 Hero & Icon Awards Headline Partners
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The shortlist for Sustainability Champion was compiled with input from Zero Carbon Forum as well as the wider industry.
The shortlists for the two consumer awards - Consumer Choice and Power Brand - were compiled from a combination of guest metrics measured by CGA by NIQ’s BrandTrack and PubTrack surveys, so reflecting the voice and habits of the eating and drinking-out public.
All the winners will be revealed at the legendary Peach 20/20 gala dinner on 13 November at Convene Sancroft, London.
“Hospitality has shown remarkable resilience, creativity and leadership in recent years, and the Peach 20/20 Hero Awards are about celebrating those who continue to inspire the industry. This year’s nominees embody the spirit of innovation and excellence that drives our sector forward,” said Peter Martin, Co-Founder, Peach 20/20
Congratulations to all the shortlisted businesses and brands.
The Awards dinner takes place directly after the Peach 20/20 Leaders Summit on 13 November 2025 at Convene Sancroft, London. Attendance at the Awards dinner is by invitation only. Please check your email to make sure you have your ticket or email
karen.smith@peach2020.com to apply for a place.
Peach 20/20 Hero & Icon Awards Premium Partners
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The Peach Icon Hall of Fame includes...
Jane O’Riordan (Caravan, Red Engine & Turtle Bay)
Will Beckett (Hawksmoor)
Huw Gott (Hawksmoor)
Roy Ellis (Mission Mars)
Neil Macleod (Mission Mars)
Tim Bacon (Living Ventures)
John Barnes (La Tasca, Novus)
Andy Bassadone (Strada, Côte, Bill’s)
Peter Boizot (Pizza Express)
Rupert & Jo Clevely (Geronimo, Hippo)
Tony Hughes (Whitbread, Mitchells & Butlers)
Gerry Ford (Caffè Nero)
John Hutson (JD Wetherspoon)
Alan Jackson (Whitbread, The Restaurant Group)
Karen Jones (Cafe Rouge, Spirit, Food & Fuel, Hawksmoor)
Phillip Kaye (ASK, Zizzi)
Jeremy King (Corbin & King)
Simon Kossoff (Carluccio’s)
Tim Martin (JD Wetherspoon)
Julian Metcalfe (Pret a Manger)
James Horler (La Tasca, 360 Restaurants)
Chris Corbin (Corbin & King)
Thomasina Miers (Wahaca)
Ian Neill (Wagamama, Las Iguanas)
Bob Ivell (Whitbread, Scottish & Newcastle, Mitchells & Butlers)
Kate Nicholls (UK Hospitality)
David Page (Pizza Express, Fulham Shore)
Ian Payne (Stonegate)
Steve Richards (Novus, Casual Dining Group)
Robin Rowland (YO! Sushi)
Mike Tye (Whitbread, Spirit)
Danny Meyer (Union Square Hospitality)
Karen Forrester (TGI Friday’s)
Jane Holbrook (Cote)
Mark Derry (Heartwood Collection
Emma Woods (Tortilla)
Kavi & Shamil Thakrar (DIshoom)
Peach 20/20 Hero & Icon Awards Event Partners
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Celebrating our 2024 winners
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Charity & Association Partners
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Testimonials
"Peach is my favourite industry event."
Laura Harper-Hinton
CEO & Founder | Caravan
"I come to Peach because the quality of the audience is great."
Alasdair Murdoch
CEO | Burger King UK
"I’ve never left a Peach event without five or six things I want to bring to our business."
Tom James
Managing Director | Bill's
"The most interesting information comes out of these type of events rather than inside the boardroom."
Éadaoin McDonagh
COO | White Rabbit Projects & MD | Lina Stores
"Being recognised by the industry at the Peach 20/20 Hero & Icon Awards is so special."
Marta Pogroszewska
NED | Bread Holdings
"Winning a Peach 20/20 Hero award means so much to us. We’ve been working towards this for eight and a half years."
Tas Gaitanos
Co-founder | Brother Marcus
"It’s great being part of the Atlantic Club, meeting some great colleagues from across the U.K. and the U.S., seeing new concepts and sharing ideas."
Jon Knight
MD Leisure & Concessions The Restaurant Group
“Peach 20/20 is a must-attend event in the hospitality calendar. Informative, thought-provoking and, most importantly, immense fun."
Alex Reilley
Co-founder and executive chair of Loungers
“Peach 20/20 is a genuinely enjoyable and thought provoking industry event. It’s one that those involved in hospitality really want to go to and treat seriously.”
Karen Jones CBE
Icon award winner and industry leader
"Peach 20/20 is a brilliant event, with an agenda that always hits the big topics with intelligence and insight - and with top class speakers."
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