Be Inclusive Hospitality (BIH) announced the winners of its fourth annual Spotlight Awards on the evening of Monday, October 13th. Among the winners was Nina Matsunaga, chef and co-owner of The Black Bull, Sedbergh, Cumbria, who received the Chef of the Year Award for 2025.

The winners were revealed at a ceremony sponsored by OpenTable, held at Quaglino’s in London, where more than 300 guests from across the industry gathered to celebrate the most inspiring talent shaping the future of the hospitality industry.

Established in 2022, the BIH Spotlight Awards aim to recognise exceptional talent from Black, Asian, and ethnic minority backgrounds within the UK’s hospitality, food, and drink sectors. Now in their fourth year, the awards continue to champion diversity, creativity, and excellence in an industry that thrives on cultural influence and innovation.

This year, a record 2,000 votes were cast across 15 categories, which included Rising Star, Wine Professional of the Year, Head Office Impact, Bar or Pub of the Year, and Brand of the Year. Finalists were selected by an esteemed panel of 21 judges representing a cross-section of the industry.

The judging panel included Sandrae Lawrence (Founding Editor of The Cocktail Lovers), Mecca Ibrahim (Co-founder of Women in the Food Industry), Katie Lin (Hospitality Consultant & Investor), Junior Lewis (Global Hospitality Client Consultant Lead at Caterer.com), and Jenny Lau (Founder of Celestial Peach).

Founded by Lorraine Copes in 2020, Be Inclusive Hospitality is a not-for-profit organisation that delivers skills development programs and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) services, while partnering with others to advance equity and inclusion across the hospitality industry.

Founder & CEO of Be Inclusive Hospitality, Lorraine Copes, said, “These awards are the beating heart of our mission to celebrate and uplift hospitality talent across the UK. This year has shown just how powerful collaboration can be – from partners and sponsors to our wider community, all coming together to champion creativity, resilience, and innovation. We’re proud to shine a light on those making an impact today, while inspiring the next generation to shape an inclusive and thriving future for our industry.”

Sasha Shaker, UK and Ireland’s Senior Director at OpenTable, said, “We are delighted to be the headline sponsor of this year’s awards. Every nominee and winner truly reflects the remarkable talent in UK hospitality. Our industry is built on welcoming everyone, and these awards showcase how fostering inclusion empowers teams and enriches the diner experience.”

Reflecting on her win, Nina Matsunaga said: “It’s amazing to win Chef of the Year, but we all know that without a great team, both front of house and back of house, nothing works. Awards like this are really about everyone who makes service happen, so I want to thank every single member of my team at The Black Bull for their hard work and dedication.

On a broader note, people from diverse backgrounds must be encouraged to play a bigger role in UK hospitality. Our food scene is truly world-class, shaped over the last 30 years by the incredible diversity found across the country. I hope it continues to flourish and inspire future generations to join this vibrant, ever-evolving industry.”

Individual Awards:

Chef of the Year – Sponsored by Caterer.com
Nina Matsunaga – The Black Bull Inn, Sedbergh

Rising Star – Sponsored by Ting
Eron Mibo – Tales and Tails UK

Writer of the Year – Sponsored by Eko Brewery
Angela Zaher – Food Writer

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

Beverage Innovator of the Year – Sponsored by Moët Hennessy
Sherwin Acebuche – Tarsier Southeast Asian Spirit

Head Office Impact – Sponsored by Umbrella Training Ltd
Gina Knight – Flat Iron Steak

Industry Icon of the Year – Sponsored by Be Inclusive Hospitality
Tevin Tobun – Founder of ROUTD and GV Group

Cuisine Awards:

African Food – Sponsored by The Voice
Khadim Mane – Little Baobab

Caribbean Food – Sponsored by The Voice
Nikki Whyte – Patois

East and Southeast Asian Food – Sponsored by Tarsier Spirit
Kaneda Pen – Mamapen

South Asian Food
Kanthi Thamma – The Spice Circuit

Middle Eastern Food
Jad Youssef – Lebnani Restaurant

Business Awards:

Bar/Pub of the Year – Sponsored by OpenTable
Deano Moncrieffe – Hacha Bar

Brand of the Year – Sponsored by Deliveroo
Hot ‘N’ Juicy Shrimp LDN

People’s Choice:

People’s Choice Person of the Year – Sponsored by Bibendum
Emanuele Mensah – The Connaught Bar

People’s Choice Restaurant of the Year – Sponsored by OpenTable
Sham Mahabir – LIMIN SOUTHBANK