Cateys 2025: Nina Basset, Brian Turner and Mark Birchall win top awards

Chefs Brian Turner and Mark Birchall and hotelier Nina Basset took home the top gongs at the 2025 Catey Awards.

The Cateys, held in partnership with Square, are judged by industry peers and honour exceptional talent and pioneering businesses within the hospitality industry.

Turner was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award during the ceremony at JW Marriott Grosvenor House London, attended by some of the country’s top hospitality operators on Monday evening (7 July).

After starting out in the industry at his father’s transport café in Leeds, the highly respected chef and restaurateur has enjoyed a storied career that has seen him receive a CBE for services to the catering industry, serve as honorary president of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, and judge the Roux Scholarship for more than 25 years.

The Special Award went to hotelier, wine expert, mentor and charity trustee Nina Basset, in recognition of her years of work supporting the hospitality sector.

Alongside her late husband, the acclaimed sommelier and hotelier Gérard Basset, Nina played an integral role in the co-founding of Hotel du Vin, Hotel TerraVina, and Spot in the Woods in the New Forest. She also serves as a trustee of the Gérard Basset Foundation, which supports diversity and inclusivity in the wine, spirits and hospitality industries, and is vice-president of the UK Sommelier Academy.

French chef Yannick Alléno received the International Outstanding Achievement Award. After winning Michelin stars for his restaurants across the globe, Alléno opened his debut London restaurant Pavyllon in 2023, which was awarded a star just six months later.

Foodservice Caterer of the Year was awarded to Paul Jackson, the highly respected managing director at Searcys, who has led the business to record-breaking growth.

Chris Eigelaar of the Belfry hotel was named Manager of the Year for his work overseeing a major transformation of the property, while the Chef Award went to Mark Birchall, whose restaurant Moor Hall became only the 15th British restaurant ever to win three Michelin stars this year.

Thom and James Elliot’s Pizza Pilgrims took home the gong for Restaurateur of the Year – Group, while Sonnet, the tiny 14-seat Northumberland restaurant launched by Gary McDermott and Claudia Mazareanu, won the Newcomer Award.

This year saw the Sustainability Award split into two categories: contract caterer Sodexo took home the Sustainable Business Award, while farming and food education organisation FarmED in Chipping Norton won the Sustainable Business Award (SME).

The Caterer editor James Stagg said: “It’s been incredibly special to welcome some of the country’s top operators back to Grosvenor House to celebrate the best of the hospitality industry.

“This year’s winners showcase the breadth of talent across the sector, whether it’s large contract caterers, independent restaurateurs or hotel managers making a difference for their teams.

“It’s also particularly special for us to recognise Brian Turner, who has spent so many years supporting others in hospitality. We feel this is a fitting tribute to an industry legend.”

Cateys guests enjoyed a three-course meal designed by last year’s Chef Award winner, Aktar Islam. Islam said his menu was inspired by India’s “culinary heritage” and treated guests to tartare of Orkney scallop, smoked tomato jelly with South Indian rasam, followed by roasted saddle of lamb with braised lamb breast, hispi cabbage, champaran sauce and morel yakhni pilau, before finishing with cardamom set cream with strawberry sorbet, pepper tuile, and lassi.