Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin knighted in New Year Honours List 2024

JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin and chefs Simon Rogan and Adam Handling are among members of the hospitality industry recognised in the New Year Honours List 2024.

Martin, who founded the pub chain in London in 1979 and has grown the business to over 800 sites, has been knighted for services to hospitality and culture.

Chefs Jeremy Lee, Rogan, and Handling were also awarded MBEs.

An outspoken figure in the industry, Martin has long campaigned for a lower hospitality VAT rate and was a prominent pro-Brexit voice in the 2016 referendum.

He said: "Above all, Wetherspoon's success has been due to a team effort over 44 years.

"Very many thanks indeed to the customers, colleagues, suppliers, designers, contractors and others, present and departed, who have contributed to this honour."

Jacqueline Blake, former chair of school food campaign group LACA, received an OBE for services to education, while Ewan Venters, chief executive of hospitality group Artfarm, was given an OBE for services to international trade.

Professor David Foskett, former head of hospitality at the University of West London and a renowned educator and author, was awarded an OBE for services to the hospitality industry and to inclusivity.

Foskett told The Caterer he was "delighted" with the award and thanked his colleagues, the Savoy Educational Trust and all those who had donated to the Victor Ceserani Student Memorial Scholarship, which Foskett co-founded in 2021 to give financial support to hospitality students.

"I would like to say a special thank you to Westminster Kingsway College where I started my journey so many years ago," he added. "Coming from a deprived working-class background Westminster changed my life."

Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood received an MBE, along with Lee, chef-proprietor of Quo Vadis in London's Soho, who was recognised for services to the food industry.

Lee told The Caterer: "What a very splendid surprise. Once the shock wore off and I was assured this was genuine I can only express delight at such an honour, bowing very deeply with a fair few blushes."

Rogan received an MBE for services to the food industry. The chef, recognised as one of the pioneers of the farm-to-table movement, oversees ten restaurants in the UK and overseas, including three-Michelin-starred L'Enclume in Cumbria.

Chef Handling, whose restaurants include the Michelin-starred Frog by Adam Handling in London, has been given an MBE for services to hospitality and international trade. He was recognised for his work in 2023 as an ambassador for the GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland marketing campaign, which is designed to promote both countries around the world.

On receiving his honour, Handling said: "I am so overwhelmingly happy - this is, to date, the most heartwarming, humbling recognition I've ever received in my almost 20 years of cooking. Thanks to everyone who has been in my life, who have both positively and negatively contributed - you have all been part of making me who I am today and I really do hope I can make the UK proud."

There was also MBEs for Nick Johnson and Jenny Thompson, who reinvented the 700-year-old Altrincham Market as a thriving food hall, and Gordon McIntyre, founder of the Hospitality Health charity to support the wellbeing of industry staff.

CBEs were awarded to former England cricketer Stuart Broad, who is now owner of the Midlands-based Cat and Wickets pub company, and Andrew Pike, former director of the GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland international marketing campaign.

For more of the 2023 Honours recipients see below

Knighthood

Tim Martin, founder and chair of JD Wetherspoon. For services to hospitality and culture

Stephen Hester, chair of EasyJet and chair of Nordea. For services to business and to the economy

CBE

Stuart Broad MBE, cricketer and co-owner of the Cat and Wickets pub company. For services to cricket

Andrew Pike OBE, former director of the GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland campaign. For public service

OBE

Jacqueline Blake, former chair of LACA, the Food People. For services to Education

Professor David Foskett MBE, lately head of hospitality, University of West London. For services to the hospitality industry and to inclusivity

MBE

Kathryn Caton, founder and managing director of Brighton Gin. For services to trade and the community in Brighton

Adam Handling, chef, ambassador of the GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland Campaign. For services to hospitality and international trade

Philip Haughton, founder of Better Food. For services to sustainable food initiatives and to the community in Bristol

Martyn Hillier, founder Micropub Association. For services to business and to hospitality

Paul Hollywood, baker and television presenter. For services to baking and to broadcasting

Nick Johnson, co-founder and director of Market Operations. For services to business and to the food sector

Jenny Thompson, co-founder and director of Market Operations. For services to the business and food sectors

Jeremy Lee, chef, for services to the food industry

Gordon Stirling Mcintyre, founder and chair of Hospitality Health. For services to tourism and hospitality industry in Scotland

Elinor Middlemiss, chef de mission, Scotland Commonwealth Games Team. For services to sport

Simon Rogan, chef at L'Enclume. For services to the food industry

Medallists of the order of the British empire

Janet Dyer, catering manager, National Fire Service College. For services to the community in Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire

Greta Edwards, cleaner and kitchen assistant, North Shore Academy, Stockton-on-Tees. For services to education