Acorn Awards 2026

Welcome to The Caterer’s Acorn Awards, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026!

 

The Acorn Awards, run in association with our headline sponsor CH&Co, recognise 30 of the brightest prospects in the hospitality industry under the age of 30.

 

Who can enter the Acorn Awards?

 

The awards, known at The Caterer’s 30 under 30, recognise people working in any sector of hospitality. Everybody is welcome to enter – you can nominate yourself or ask a colleague to nominate you and tell us about your achievements.

 

Past winners represent every sector of the hospitality industry and include the likes of Adam Handling, chef and founder of the Frog, pâtissier Sarah Frankland, Lisa Goodwin-Allen, executive chef of Northcote, and Nick Jones, the founder of Soho House.

 

Winners  can have any job title – past Acorns have included spa managers, social media managers, baristas, nutritionists, mixologists, data managers and housekeepers. They can also work in any part of the sector, from hotels to restaurants, cocktail bars, contract caterers,  pub groups and fish and chip bars. What they all have in common is the ability to show ambition, leadership and innovative thinking in their everyday roles.

 

There are just three criteria for entry:

·       You must work in the hospitality industry

·       You must be under the age of 30 on 8 June 2026

·       You must be available for the winners’ weekend in on 7-8 June 2026. 

 

How to enter the Acorn Awards

 

Potential Acorn Award winners are nominated by themselves, their peers or managers (Acorns do not need to be managers themselves). The entry process consists of completing a form explaining their achievements, how they have inspired colleagues, made an impression on guests or shown leadership. Entries are free.

What will you win?

 

The 30 Acorn Award winners and their nominees will be invited to a winners’ weekend, during which they will receive a trophy and celebrate their achievements.

This year the event will take place at the Swinton Estate in North Yorkshire on 7-8 June 2026.

 

Acorn Awards turns 40

 

Since its inception in 1986, we have awarded this coveted prize to well over 1,000 rising hospitality stars.

This year, we celebrate 40 years of the Acorn Awards, with this year’s winners set to join an exclusive group of high achievers, representing the very best in the sector. Will you be one of them?