As you won't need reminding, business-wise, the hospitality industry is currently bearing the brunt of the current lockdown. But amidst all the doom and gloom we wanted to give a shout-out to all the restaurants, bars, chefs, hotels and all-round food heroes who have given us so much pleasure already this year – and will do so again. So here, presented in association with our fantastic partners Veuve Clicquot, is the shortlist for the 2020 GQ Food & Drink Awards. Plans for our sixth annual awards evening will be revealed shortly, but don't worry – the champagne is chilling, the Waterford Crystal ice buckets have been engraved, and when the time is right we will celebrate in proper GQ style. In the meantime, do support your local food and beverage outlet in any way you can.
Best Restaurant
The Lecture Room & Library at Sketch, London
Midsummer House, Cambridge
Mana, Manchester
The Wilderness, Birmingham
Ynyshir, Powys
Best Chef
Tom Brown, Cornerstone, London
Aktar Islam, Opheem, Birmingham
Johannes Nuding, The Lecture Room & Library at Sketch, London
Anne-Sophie Pic, La Dame De Pic, London
Clare Smyth, Core, London
Best Interior
Bob Bob Cité, London
Circolo Popolare, London
Decimo, London
Heckfield Place, Hampshire
The Man Behind The Curtain, Leeds
Best Breakthrough
Aimsir, Kildare
Da Terra, London
Forza Wine, London
The Little Chartroom, Edinburgh
The Standard, London
Belvedere Best Bar
Connaught Bar, London
Murder Inc, London
Pennyroyal, Cardiff
Tayer/Elementary, London
Vice & Virtue, Leeds
Veuve Clicquot Innovator
Bompas & Parr
Cakes & Bubbles, London
Inception Group
Mercato Metropolitano
Mollie’s Motel & Diner, Oxfordshire
Best Front Of House
Juanito Asencio, Chiltern Firehouse, London
David Boyd, Aqua Shard, London
Jean-Claude Breton, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, London
Joe Jacobs, The Box, London
Alessandro Palazzi, Dukes Bar, London
Best Restaurateur
Jason Atherton
Robin Gill, The Dairy
Adam Handling
Victor Lugger and Tigrane Seydoux, Big Mamma Group
Gary Usher, Elite Bistros
Best Hotel
Belmond Cadogan Hotel, London
Coworth Park, Berkshire
Fingal, Edinburgh
Grantley Hall, North Yorkshire
The Newt In Somerset
Best Pub
The Angel At Hetton, North Yorkshire
Canton Arms, London
The Mariners, Cornwall
Marksman, London
The Swan, Devon
Best Overall Experience
Carbis Bay Estate, Cornwall
Dinner By Heston Blumenthal, London
The Hut, Isle Of Wight
Kwant, London
Northcote, Lancashire
Best Sommelier
Melania Bellesini, The Fat Duck, Berkshire
James Lloyd, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, London
Sébastien Morice, Claridge’s, London
Sara Rossi, Trinity, London
David Vareille, The Arts Club, London
Sustainability Award
Tommy Banks, The Black Swan, North Yorkshire
Henry Dimbleby, National Food Strategy
Douglas McMaster, Silo, London
Simon Rogan
Spring, London
The judges
Introducing our panel of industry experts, the leaders in the world of hospitality, interiors and food and drink tasked with choosing the very best of this year’s impressive shortlist
Bertrand Steip
After nearly three decades with Moët Hennessy, Bertrand Steip was appointed managing director of the company’s UK arm in 2017, looking after Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon and Veuve Clicquot.
Dylan Jones
Now in his 21st year as Editor-In-Chief of GQ, Dylan Jones is also chairman of London Fashion Week Men’s and the Hay Festival Foundation and a board member of the British Fashion Council.
Oliver Peyton
Revered restaurateur Oliver Peyton opened his first restaurant, Atlantic Bar & Grill, in 1994. In addition to judging Great British Menu, Peyton is cofounder of hospitality group Peyton And Byrne.
Tom Kitchin
Tom Kitchin rose to culinary fame after becoming the youngest chef to earn a Michelin star, for his eponymous Edinburgh restaurant. Since then, he has opened four more restaurants across Scotland.
Sunaina Sethi
Sunaina Sethi is one of three siblings behind ahead-of-the-curve restaurant group JKS. Sethi is to thank for much-loved London restaurants Trishna, Hoppers, Brigadiers and Bao, to name but a few.
Mia Johansson
Mia Johansson is managing partner of London’s hottest watering hole – and recipient of 2018’s Belvedere Best Bar award – Swift, where she continues to shake (and stir) up the cocktail scene.
Ben Elliot
Not only is Ben Elliot a V&A trustee and cofounder of luxury lifestyle group Quintessentially, but most recently he was appointed the British government’s first food surplus and waste champion.
Tara Bernerd
Interior designer Tara Bernerd’s practice is at the top of its game, with a portfolio that includes a striking restoration of The Principal London and the hotly anticipated Equinox Hotel LA.
Melissa Hemsley
Chef, author and one half of a double act with her sister, Jasmine, Melissa Hemsley champions sustainable living. Her latest recipe book, Eat Green, is out now and set to become a new kitchen classic.
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