Hotel Cateys 2025: Food and Beverage Manager of the Year – Jack Cohn, the Ned, London

Being a food and beverage director is no small task, and Jack Cohn has a more complex job than most. In fact, he has been making an impression at the Ned hotel and members’ club in London since he joined the team in 2018 as general manager of Millie’s Lounge.

Over the last seven years his keen commercial eye and people-driven leadership has seen him rise to oversee the entire F&B operation at the Ned, covering 12 restaurants and bars operating across a 21-hour day serving over 18,000 guests a week, as well as all room service and private events. Through his efforts, the Ned’s restaurants and club venues have achieved consistently high mystery guest scores across its wide range of venues, not just meeting service standards, but setting them.

Cohn has also gone above and beyond what’s expected in his day-to-day role. Over the past year he has launched and scaled several projects which have both exceeded financial targets and elevated the Ned’s reputation as a culinary destination. These have included chef residencies from the likes of Helen Graham, Karan Gokani and Chef’s Table star Ivan Orkin, whose ramen menu drove 800 incremental covers in January and February.

A collaboration with Texas’ Interstellar BBQ, the first Michelin-starred barbecue restaurant in the world, sold thousands of tickets and produced a six-figure boost in sales, while he also oversaw a record-breaking F&B performance last December with initiatives such as a festive feast for members’ and a Carol Show with celebrity choir master Gareth Malone.

Beyond his commercial achievements Cohn has shown himself to be a dedicated leader, with one judge remarking that he “clearly wants to be part of his team rather than just the manager of it”.

Across the 450 team members he manages across both front and back of house, Cohn has achieved the highest-ever employee engagement score across his department. Developing talent is a key focus, and over the past 18 months six senior head of department positions have been filled by internal candidates – a direct result of his commitment to nurture talent from within. This year, he also supported two of the Ned’s pastry chefs to enter Channel 4’s Bake Off: The Professionals, giving them the flexibility to practice for the show. The pair ultimately went on to win, with their achievement celebrated across the whole department.

Cohn also believes in the wider impact of hospitality and has led the Ned’s involvement with City Giving Day and the StreetSmart charity, with the latter generating over £30,000 of charitable donations during the festive period. He also taken teams to Providence Row homeless shelter in London, cooking meals for around 120 people at a time. 

With ability to deliver commercial success, support teams and give back to the community, it’s no surprise Cohn was called “inspirational” by the judges and deemed a more than worthy winner of this award.

What the judges said

"A really inspirational winner in all areas. A great leader who clearly wants to be part of his team rather than just the manager of it."

Sarah Williams

"Jack’s achievements over the last 12 months were truly remarkable, showing ability to grow an existing great offering, being able to create exciting points of interest and unique selling points."

Pedro Paulo

"A true F&B professional with a passion for culture. A deserving winner of this accolade."

James Clarke

The shortlist

• Jack Cohn, the Ned, London
• Joshua Da Costa, Hilton London Bankside
• Daniel Greenock, Gleneagles, Auchterarder, Perthshire
• Cedric Lescure, The Landmark London
• Fiachra O’Regan, The Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel

The judges

• Arjeta Arapi, the Montague on the Gardens Hotel
• Everett Chambers, Red Carnation Hotels, the Montague on the Gardens Hotel
• James Clarke, Park Plaza Westminster Bridge
• Chris Cleghorn, the Queensberry Hotel and Olive Tree Restaurant
• Pedro Paulo, Ham Yard hotel, London
• Moses Solomon, Royal Automobile Club
• Sarah Williams, Firmdale Hotels