A winning recipe for F&B Awards

Should you enter your venue for an award? Previous winners share the benefits and give entry tips

Scott Freeman, Culinary Director for ESS Defence marine and aerospace

What award have you won?

I won Public Sector Catering Chef Award at the Craft Guild of Chefs Awards in 2023 and was also named as a winner in the Rising Stars 100 at the We Are the City Awards in the Men for Gender Balance category.

Why did you decide to enter?

Nick Vadis, Culinary Director for Compass Group UK & Ireland and Chef Ambassador to the NHS Supply Chain, nominated me for the award without me knowing – the first I heard of my involvement was when the shortlist was announced!

What did you have to do to enter?

Although I wasn’t involved in my own nomination, I’ve been part of the process for nominating some of my colleagues. For the Craft Guild of Chefs Awards, you need to submit a 500-word summary of why the nominee should win, which is challenging as there’s generally a lot more to say! You can also provide supporting information and evidence.

How was the experience?

My own experience of the awards was really positive. It’s an event I’ve attended several times. I had a dream of one day being called up on stage to receive the coveted Craft Guild of Chefs jacket! It was a great evening surrounded by my friends and colleagues and a moment that I’ll never forget.

What have been the benefits of winning this award?

The award came at the start of an incredibly busy 12 months. The win encouraged me to pause and reflect on my achievements, which is something I feel we could all benefit from. It also enabled me to build on my network and became a talking point with many of our clients who recognised the prestigious nature of the event.

“"My own experience of the awards was really positive... it was a moment that I'll never forget."”

- Scott Freeman, Culinary Director for ESS Defence Marine and Aerospace

Your awards entry timeline

AA Rosettes

Celebrating culinary excellence, the AA Rosettes were the first nationwide scheme for assessing the quality of food served by restaurants and hotels. This award is one of the most well-recognised and prestigious.

Entry date: N/A

Categories: Restaurants within accommodation, multiple restaurants within one accommodation establishment and standalone restaurants

Requirements: Fill in an online form and inspectors
will visit (most commonly)
at lunch service.

The Best Places to Work in Hospitality

For companies large and
small, these awards identify and showcase the Top 30
operators who lead the way
in people engagement and workplace culture.

Entry date: 9 Feb

Categories: N/A

Requirements: Register online and your employees will be sent a unique survey link to answer questions and provide comments about their experience at work.

The Craft Guild of Chefs Awards

Seen as the chefs’ Oscars, these awards recognise exceptional talent across the industry – from apprentice and young chefs to those with established careers in hospitality, pubs and restaurants.

Entry date: 16 Feb

Categories: Various

Requirements: Online nominations and 500-word submission plus additional awards without nominations.

Great British Pub Awards

This recognises and rewards pub teams for their amazing work, telling incredible stories of how they’re integral to communities whilst giving customers a list of the very best nearby pubs for every occasion.

Entry date: 5 May

Categories: Various

Requirements: Initial online entry, shortlisting by judges, site visit and final interviews.

Foodservice Cateys

The coveted Catey statue symbolises excellence and is awarded to those at the very top of their game, as judged by the wider foodservice industry.

Entry date: 26 June

Categories: Various

Requirements: Register online and submit nomination.

Top 50 Gastropubs

Conceived in 2009, this list recognises the hardworking individuals in the gastropubs industry. Judged by 350
industry experts, the guide
is also a go-to source for the best pubs to dine at in the UK.

Entry date: 3 Nov

Categories: Top 50 Gastropubs, 51-100 Gastropubs, One to Watch, Chef of the
Year, Highest New Entry
and Highest Climber.

Requirements: The voting academy nominate pubs but venues can put themselves forward for One to Watch.

The Casual Dining Awards

Run by the organisers of the award-winning Casual Dining show, these awards highlight achievements made by the most innovative and successful multi-site restaurants, pubs and bars in the UK.

Entry date: 3 Nov

Categories: Various

Requirements: Online entry form.

Class Bar Awards

This is the longest-running and best-attended UK bar industry celebration, judging bars and bartenders by an esteemed panel of judges.

Entry date: 22 Nov

Categories: Bar Employer of the Year, Emerging Bartender of the Year, Sustainable Practices Award, Bar Manager of the Year, Front of House Star of the Year and Social Media Presence of the Year

Requirements:
Nominate via a 500-word submission explaining why they should win.

Nick Vadis, Culinary Director for the Compass Group

What award have you won?

I’ve worked in this industry for decades and in that time I’m very proud to have won several awards.

Five standouts are: Cost Sector Caterer Award – Lifetime Achievement Award 2018, Foodservice Cateys – Outstanding Contribution Award 2022, Craft Guild of Chefs – Culinary Hero Award 2022 (for NHS Work), Public Sector Catering Awards – Special Contribution Award 2024 and Chef Food Service Catey in 2014.

Why did you decide to enter the award?

These awards came about because someone put pen to paper on my behalf. I now do this for others within the industry to recognise the fantastic talent in our business, so that people get the recognition that they deserve.

How do you find the entry process and experience?

Entering a nomination takes time. Make sure you have the right candidate and they’ve gone over and above in their field. My advice would be to read the criteria and make sure when writing the nomination, you hit all the relevant points. The experience for you and the recipient is very rewarding, it’s great seeing someone who wholeheartedly deserves it being recognised.

What have been the benefits of receiving this award?

It’s the power of recognition by your peers and just confirms you are doing the right thing. For some, it could mean a promotion or recognition from your business. Honestly, the real benefit is the confidence and acknowledgement – getting this at any level for the job you do is the greatest prize of all!

Award-winning Tips

1 Choose the right competition: You might be tempted to enter your pub for an AA Rosette on your first try, but this might not be the best award for your venue. Take a good look at the criteria, requirements and different categories before you can enter. This means you're putting effort into an award you're most likely to win.

2 Put plenty of time aside: If you can't make space in your diary, then try and find a colleague in the team who has the time to research and write your entry. Researching previous winners, pulling together any evidence of your success and making sure all entry questions are answered inside the word limit isn't a quick task, though the effort will be worthwhile!

3 Make your venue stand out: Judges will be reviewing tens or even hundreds of applications for your award, so to be in with a chance of winning, you need to shout the loudest about what you do. Numbers that show your progress or achievements, adding personality into your written entry or highlighting your venue's innovations or colleagues will all help.