We are thrilled to unveil the finalists for the 8th Midlands Food Drink & Hospitality Awards (MFDHA) — a powerful celebration of the people and businesses driving the region’s vibrant hospitality scene.
This year, the awards continue to shine a spotlight on excellence across the Midlands. With hundreds of nominations submitted, the response has once again demonstrated the community’s immense pride and admiration for those working tirelessly within the food, drink, and hospitality sectors.
From family-run favourites and hidden gems to luxurious stays and dedicated front-line staff, the quality and range of this year’s finalists reflect the strength and spirit of the industry. Each nomination tells a story of passion, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to creating exceptional experiences.As always, our goal is to elevate the Midlands as a premier destination for hospitality. These awards play a key role in raising the profile of local businesses and highlighting the remarkable people who make this region so unique.
This year’s theme, #HospitalityTogether, recognises the unity and shared values that have helped the industry adapt, grow, and thrive. It’s about coming together — businesses, customers, teams, and communities — to celebrate what makes hospitality more than just service: it’s about connection, care, and collective success.
Choosing this year’s finalists has not been easy, with the bar set incredibly high. Our judges were inspired by the stories, achievements, and creativity of those nominated.
Voting is now officially open! This marks the next exciting phase of the awards. Members of the public are encouraged to cast their votes and show their support for their favourites. These votes will play an important role before our judging panel reconvenes to deliberate and determine the overall winners for the 2025 awards.
The winners will be revealed at the prestigious ceremony on Monday, 30th June 2025, at The Eastside Rooms, Birmingham, where the industry will come together for a night of recognition, celebration, and inspiration.
Event Details:– Date: Monday, 30th June 2025
Location:Â The Eastside Rooms, Birmingham, B7 4BL
Vote and Event Info:Â www.mfdhawards.co.uk
Congratulations to all the finalists. Your dedication, innovation, and heart are what make the Midlands a leader in hospitality.
See the full list of finalists below.#HospitalityTogether | #MFDHA25
Afternoon Tea Establishment of the Year
Bistro Du Vin
Chai Haute
Cup a Cha
Lace Market hotel
Malmaison Birmingham
Tailored Taste
The Grand Hotel Birmingham
The Sidings Tea Room
Back of House Employee of the Year
Matthew Banberry -F1 Arcade
Megan Whitehouse – Trentina
Mizan Rahman – Thalio
Bar/Restaurant Manager of the Year
Boots Somel- Koyla Kitchen at the Thorns
Eduard Kalman – Albert’s Schloss
Emma Brown – Baked in Brick / Bakehouse
Gina Underhill – Harborne Kitchen
Juan Gurdiel – Tattu
Kim Ramos – F1 Arcade
Luke Thorpe – Hoar Cross
Michael Stackhouse – Boom Battle Bar
Nicholas Ameer-Beg – The Gadabout
Pradeep Baskar – Zocalo Birmingham
Rumesh Manoharan – 670 Grams
Sorin Radulescu – Malmaison Birmingham
Boutique Hotel of the Year
Baloci
Hambleton Hall
Hotel Du Vin
The Barnsdale
The High Field Townhouse
Brewery/Distillery of the Year
Attic Brew Co
Indian Brewery
Shakespeare Distillery
Stonehouse Brewery, BBQ and Distillery
Stroud Brewery
West Midlands Distillery
Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year
1950s American Diner
Burger Shop Hereford & Worcester
Chai Haute
Earlsdon Supper Club
Embers Shropshire
Fourwards Restaurant
Libertine Burger
OTTO
Tiger Bites Pig
Zocalo Restaurant
Chef of the Year
Ben Knowles – Ben’s Kitchen
Dilanka Fernando – Mayan
Gregory Pryce – Hotel Du Vin
Kiran Suvarna – Orelle
Kray Treadwell – 670 Grams
Lee Desanges – Baked in Brick
Michael Blades – Upstairs by Tom Shepherd
Mikey Chambers – Toca Social
Nithin Prasanth – Inji
Vahid Zare – Yakinori
Cocktail Bar of the Year
40 St Pauls
F1 Arcade Birmingham
Long Gallery Bar – Hoar Cross
Manahatta
Orelle
Plates and Shakers
The Alchemist
The Gadabout Bar
The Grand Hotel Birmingham – Madeline Bar
Watson’s Cocktail Bar
Desi Bar & Grill of the Year
Paddy’s Marten Inn
Peg & Grill
Soho Cottage
The Emerald Nottingham
The Firs Inn
The New Bell Grill
Dessert Parlour of the Year
Fluffy Fluffy
Skullduggery Dessert Illusions
The Cookie Cottage
Tracey’s Juice bar
East Asian Restaurant of the Year
KIBOU
Lulu Wild
Sabai Sabai
Sushi Passion
Tattu
Tiger Bites Pig
Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year
670 Grams
Albatross Death Cult
Anoki
Baloci
Chaddesley Restaurant
Harborne Kitchen
Mallories
Orelle
Satori
The Mayan
Food/Drink Festival of the Year
Cocker Hoop Creative Ltd
Colmore Business District
English Whisky Festival
Shrewsbury Food Festival
Shropshire Oktoberfest
Front of House Employee of the Year
Alexandra Karati – Cucina Rustica
Erin Rumney – Hoar Cross Hall
Kim Ramos – F1 Arcade
Lilianna Mormont Thomas – Dishoom
Liyana Bano – Albert’s Schloss Birmingham
Willow Allen-Wheldall – Smoke & Ash Restaurant
Gastro Pub of the Year
The Church Pub & Dining Room
The Greyhound @ Lower Penn
The High Field
The New Inn, St Owen’s Cross
The Plough
General Manager of the Year
Alison Moody -BOX Brindley Place
Baru Pytlickova -Dishoom
Federico Tocco -Tattu
Gabi Valatkaite -Trentina
Jamie Whittingham -Barbara’s Bier Haus
Johan Scheepers – The Grand Hotel Birmingham
Lauren McCormick -OMI Bar
Liam Hughes -F1 Arcade
Matt Sharpe – Manahatta
Michael Stackhouse -Boom Battle Bar
Taz Hussain – Albert’s Schloss
Vinit Vadhawkar – Park Hall Hotel & Spa
Hotel Bar of the Year
Badgers Bar – The Elms Hotel & Spa
Brabazon Bar -The Belfry
Long Gallery Bar – Hoar Cross Hall
Madeleine Bar- The Grand Hotel
Hotel of the Year
Crowne Plaza Hotel Stratford upon Avon
Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre
Lea Marston Hotel
Malmaison Birmingham
The Abbey Hotel
The Belfry Hotel & Resort
The Grand Hotel Birmingham
The Mount Hotel
Independent Coffee Shop of the Year
Cafe Fika
Cool River Cafe
Dragon Fly Cafe
Fueled
Medicine Bakery
Smithtons Food Market
Sol Bistro
The Courtyard Cafe
The Sudbury Stables
Zoes Coffee and Cakes
Indo-Persian Restaurant of the Year
Baloci
Bazar
Persian Empire
Qavali
Soofi
Zaitoon Restaurant
Italian Restaurant of the Year
Casa Italian
Ciaro
Cortina Italian restaurant
Cucina Rustica
Earlsdon Supper Club
Merchant of Venice
San Carlo
Surf and slice
Trentina
Tropea
People’s Choice (Public Vote)
Albert’s Schloss
Baked in Brick
Bayleys of Bromsgrove
Cigno
Dishoom
Hoggy’s Grill
Kabuli
Kayal Nottingham
Mr Patties
Orelle
Soko Patisserie
The Angel Public House
Tutto Apposto
Rising Star of the Year
Agne Grazeviciute -Rutland Hall Hotel & Spa
Bobby Kollaparambil Chacko -Herb Restaurant
Georgia Davies -Baked in Brick / The Bakehouse
Goda Eimontaite – Be At One Cocktail Bar
Hazel Young – Hazel Cakes Ltd
Ian Halstead – Hotel Du Vin
Iliyana Deliradeva -F1 Arcade
Liam Reeves – Toca Social
Mackenzie Blair – Trentina
Money Chopra – HDV/Malmaison
Prabjot Ragbotra – All Bar One Brindleyplace
South Asian Restaurant of the Year
Anoki
Dishoom
Inji
Kayal
No.25 Restaurant & Bistro
Pushkar
Rajdoot
Streetly Balti
Thalio
Zaazu
Steak House of the Year
Black Iron at Winstanley House
De La Vies
Oakey Smokey
Wild Tango
Street Food Operator of the Year
Chilli Guys
Greidy’s Wings & Strips
Lalita’s Indian street food
Libertine Burger
Percy Plonkers Hotdogs
Spice Club
STUFFED Any Way You Like
That Filthy Food
The Meatles
The Spud Man
The Street Food Co.
Urey’s Street Food
Sustainable Food Business of the Year
BA-HA
Conferences and Events, University of Birmingham
Earlsdon Supper Club
Lalita’s Indian street food
Planet Ice
Themed/Entertainment Venue of the Year
1950s American Diner
Albert’s Schloss Birmingham
Dragon Fly Virtual Reality Café
F1 Arcade
Mama Roux
Mirabella’s Play Cafe
Planet Ice
Toca Social
Traditional Pub of the Year
The Arcade
The Bailey Head
The Bath Inn
The Black Star
The Church Pub & Dining Room
The Distillery
Vegetarian or Vegan Restaurant of the Year
BA-HA
Barsana
HERB Leicester
No Frickin Chicken
Venue of the Year
BOX Brindley Place
Grand Hotel Birmingham
Mama Roux’s
Ragley Hall
Rose Garden Banqueting suite
The Belfry
The Hawthorns – West Bromwich Albion
Wolverhampton Wanderers
