Acorn Awards 2026: Joel Pennington, the Cottage in the Wood

Position Restaurant manager, the Cottage in the Wood 

Age 27

Nominator Greg Stephenson, director, Gundog PR

Joel Pennington is helping drive the rise of Cumbrian Michelin-starred restaurant the Cottage in the Wood, combining strong commercial awareness and a genuine passion for hospitality.

Having joined the business as a sommelier, Pennington quickly established himself through his wine knowledge and guest engagement, completing his Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 3 qualification before progressing to restaurant manager. He now oversees front of house across the 32-cover restaurant and eight-bedroom boutique hotel, leading a team of seven alongside head chef Jack Bond. 

His impact has been both operational and commercial. During a period of ownership transition, Pennington helped increase hotel occupancy from 50% to a sustained 90%, the business retained its Michelin star for a second consecutive year and it secured three AA rosettes. Guest satisfaction reflects the standard Pennington sets daily, with guests repeatedly praising the attentive, knowledgeable and friendly service.

Pennington has also played a key role in driving spend per head from £123 to £131. He expanded the wine list from 29 to 58 bins and introduced structured wine training that helped generate a very healthy six-figure sum in wine flight sales last year alone. Menu initiatives, such as including a cheese course and lunch supplement, have also created new revenue streams, while cocktails have been created from kitchen waste, garden produce and foraged ingredients.

Pennington is also a strong advocate for mental health within hospitality. He has raised more than £3,000 for the Mental Health Foundation through fundraising events and charity runs, while his work as an ambassador for the Burnt Chef Project includes collaborative dinners and initiatives supporting wellbeing across the sector.

He is equally passionate about supporting the next generation of hospitality professionals and regularly visits local colleges and schools to promote hospitality as a career. Most recently, he returned to his former school, Cockermouth School, to speak to more than 200 year seven students about his career journey and the opportunities available within the industry.

Driven, knowledgeable and ambitious, Pennington is emerging as one of the North West’s standout front of house talents.