Acorn Awards 2026: Angelina Adamo, Vieni

Position Chef-owner, Vieni

Age 28

Testimonial/support Luke Tipping, former chef-director, Simpsons, Birmingham 

From turning a lockdown idea into a multi-site operation with clear commercial momentum, Angelina Adamo has built a fast-growing hospitality business from the ground up.

Starting with a self-funded private dining concept, Adamo grew Tutto Apposto’s turnover more than tenfold from launch to its third year of operations, driven by strong brand positioning and a consistent focus on guest experience. That growth has led to her operating the Circle Lounge in the Birmingham Hippodrome and the launch of her first bricks-and-mortar site, Italian restaurant Vieni in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, earlier this year, leading to predicted group turnover reaching seven figures this financial year.

Adamo is closely involved in all areas of the business, from menu development and supplier negotiations to pricing and cost control, ensuring strong margins while maintaining quality. She has also reinvested profits back into the business to support long-term growth, alongside building a team of 16 and creating clear progression pathways.

Adamo has adapted the working environment to suit her team, including adjusting recipes and processes to support her head chef’s Muslim dietary requirements, as well as mentoring people and championing internal progression, all of which drives strong retention.

Adamo is an active voice in the industry. She hosts dinners with influential women in hospitality to inspire the next generation and is also a regional ambassador for the Burnt Chef Project, raising £9,000 for the mental health social enterprise as well as for Birmingham-based women’s and children’s charity Anawim. She also speaks at colleges to demonstrate the wide-ranging careers that are available in the sector.