Cateys 2025 Newcomer winner: ‘We would wholeheartedly encourage anyone to enter’

The 2025 Cateys Newcomer Award winner has urged individuals and businesses to apply for this year’s awards after describing the experience as “unforgettable”.

Speaking to The Caterer, Gary McDermott, owner and chef of Sonnet in Alnwick, Northumberland, said: “We would wholeheartedly encourage anyone to enter the Cateys – the experience is unforgettable.”

McDermott launched the restaurant in early 2024 and opted for an unconventional model: a 14-course tasting menu in a quiet town in the North East. The concept, developed with his partner Claudia Mazareanu, has since attracted significant industry acclaim.

McDermott added: “Winning the Catey Newcomer Award was an incredibly special moment for us and something we remain deeply grateful for. At such an early stage it felt like a real vote of confidence from the industry and a reminder that all the hard work, risks and long hours were worth it. 

Make your nomination – for you or a colleague – for the Cateys 2026

“To be recognised by the industry and to be mentioned alongside the past winners was genuinely a dream come true for us. For the team, it was a chance to pause, celebrate together and feel proud of what we’d built. The recognition gave us renewed energy and belief, and it’s a moment that continues to motivate us every day.”

The Newcomer of the Year award is one of 24 categories at this year’s Cateys, alongside Best Marketing Campaign, Menu of the Year and the newly created Pastry Chef of the Year.

The Cateys, in partnership with Square, return to JW Marriott Grosvenor House London on Tuesday 7 July 2026 for an unforgettable evening to honour and celebrate exceptional talent and pioneering businesses in hospitality.

Nominations are open now, so if you know of an individual, business or organisation worthy of a Catey, we want to hear from you.

To make a nomination for the 2026 Cateys, go to the Cateys website for full details. The closing date for nominations is Wednesday 4 March.

To purchase your ticket for the awards ceremony, visit our website or email Sophie Lancaster. To enquire about sponsoring the event, please contact Cheryl Townsend on 020 7881 4822.