The UK food industry isn’t shy of a party. So when we announced the first-ever event to celebrate the UK’s top new restaurants—a list of the 23 very-best openings across the country in 2023, voted for by a crack team of expert judges—we knew that the guests would be well-prepared to turn out and mark the occasion.
Shoreditch Arts Club, our venue for the evening
The crowd gathered inside for Champagne and canapés
And turn out they did. As cars started to pull up to Shoreditch Arts Club, our venue for the evening, enormous screens inside danced with mouthwatering pictures of some of our favourite restaurants and dishes. Inside, familiar faces from the food industry (Raymond Blanc! Ravinder Bhogal! Romy Gill! Jackson Boxer!) were caught up in conversations, sharing insights about the spots they’re dying to try and the food trends they’re leaving behind in 2023.
Bollinger Champagne, lined up for the arriving guests
Lorraine Copes with Adejoké Bakare
Trays of Bollinger Champagne were whisked about the room, and before long, guests were gathering eagerly as global editorial director Divia Thani took to the stage to share a few short but sweet words. “Food—like travel—has the ability to change the way people think about different parts of the world,” she told the audience. “Like travel, food has the power to create conversations, open up dialogues, and become the gateway into truly discovering and understanding a culture and community that is not our own. It has the power to break down myths and misconceptions and truly bring people together.”
G&Ts were in high demand at the bar
Ruth Rogers collects her lifetime achievement award with Jeremy King OBE and Divia Thani
However, with the aim of spotlighting the incredible winners of this year’s awards, the ceremony swiftly pivoted to announce the 23 new restaurants that have been named among the best by this year’s judging panel, eliciting raucous applause from the crowd before inviting some special guests to the stage.
Chef-founder of Murano and judging panel member Angela Hartnett OBE spoke passionately about Lorraine Copes, the winner of the game-changer award, who received the honour for her pioneering approach to inclusive hospitality. Next, chef and writer Gizzi Erskine, another member of the judging panel, waxed lyrical about Ruben Dawnay, our 23-year-old winner of the one to watch award. Divia Thani crowned the best new chef, Adejoké Bakare. Finally, restaurant icon Jeremy King OBE took to the stage to present Ruth Rogers with the lifetime achievement award.
With the best of what’s new and exciting on the UK food scene suitably celebrated, DJ Aryell took over the sound system, and guests flooded to the bar for more Champagne, Penfolds wine, and Fords Gin G&Ts while snacking on roast beef or cavolo nero canapés. Undoubtedly, a crowd of chefs would require a more robust supper sooner or later, so a late-night delivery of Shake Shack was in order.
