2 Awards 1 Night

Last weekend pretty much summed up what this industry is all about.

Two awards. One night. Two completely different cities. Liverpool and London, both massive in their own right, both hugely important when it comes to hospitality.

And somehow, we were in both.

Part of the team headed down to Springboard Awards for Excellence in London, which, if I’m honest, felt like a bit of a moment for us. It’s the first time The Hospitality Hero has ever been up for an award at that level, national level, in that city, and it meant something.

The Springboard Charity is a UK charity focused on improving people’s lives through careers in hospitality, leisure and tourism.

They work across schools, colleges and communities to promote the industry, break down the stigma around hospitality jobs, and create real pathways into work. That includes training programmes, career support, and helping people from all backgrounds, especially those who might not otherwise get the opportunity, step into the industry.

At its core, it’s about building a stronger future workforce for hospitality, and giving people a genuine chance to build a career within it.

So to be recognised in that space, in London, on that stage, it hit differently.

The team that went down had an unbelievable night. They met some amazing people and we snuck a few books in and passed them out too. Got to take any opportunity.

At the exact same time, I was back up in Liverpool at the Liverpool Hospitality Awards 2026, which, for me, was a completely different experience this year.

For the first time in well over seven years of operating the awards and more than 15 years of being involved with the association I wasn’t behind the scenes.

No pressure. No last-minute speech changes.

I just turned up as a guest.

And honestly, that alone was a bit surreal.

The Liverpool Hospitality Awards 2026 delivered exactly what it should. The organisation, the room, the welcome, everything was just done properly. Cool Breeze Events nailed it, as they always do. Katie and her team know exactly how to put on a night that feels effortless (even though it never is).

And then you’ve got the team at Titanic Hotel Liverpool.

They just get hospitality.

The service was smooth, the team were spot on, the food was strong, and there’s always that extra level of finesse there that you can’t really teach. It’s why that venue works so well for nights like this. They deliver, every time.

But what really stood out this year wasn’t just how well the night was run.

It was who was in the room.

The new team leading the association did something we probably didn’t focus on enough in previous years, they brought in the right people. Proper stakeholders. People who influence the city.

You had figures like Liam Robinson, Kim Johnson, Harry Doyle, Claire McColgan, people who sit within the fabric of Liverpool and actually shape what happens next.

And that matters more than people realise.

On the night itself, it was everything you’d expect.

Jay and the team from The Guide ran the show brilliantly, as always. Suppliers turned out in force, a mix of long-standing supporters and new names coming through, which is always a good sign. It shows the industry is still evolving, still bringing new people in.

We also made a conscious decision this year to shift our sponsorship.

Instead of The Hospitality Hero sponsoring directly, we handed that over to Deva Fest. That was intentional. We wanted to make a statement about our growth into the Merseyside area and give Deva Fest a proper platform within the city.

I was also lucky enough to judge the Head Chef category this year, alongside Stephen Ramsden from Saffron Vanilla, someone who knows his stuff inside out. And as expected, the standard was ridiculous.

Honestly, it just reinforces how strong the talent pool is in this city.

To see Tim Adams from Liverpool Football Club take the win was well deserved, but across the board, the level was high. Really high.

There were loads of standout moments across the night. Businesses and individuals getting recognition for the work they put in day in, day out, the kind of work most people never see.

That’s what these awards should be about.

One of the highlights for me was seeing MSP receive a special recognition award after more than 25 years in the city. I know that team well, and whilst Colin leads it, it’s a full team effort. They’ve supported so many of us across the industry over the years, so it was good to see that properly acknowledged.

And then came the moment I wasn’t expecting at all.

The Chairman’s Award.

I’ve been in Liverpool since 2009. Worked across the association, the BID, different boards, different projects, just getting involved where I can, trying to push things forward.

Not for recognition. Just because I care about the industry and the city.

So to be recognised like that, by your peers, people you actually work alongside, it hits differently.

And it was made even more special by who presented it.

Peter Schriewersmann, who is also my business partner, delivered the award alongside Helen Roberts.

When you step back and look at the weekend as a whole, it says a lot.

London, recognition for where we’re going, the future, the pipeline, the next generation.Liverpool, recognition for what’s been built, the contribution, the impact over time.

Both matter and I am proud to be apart of such an incredibly rewarding industry.