• membership@liverpoolhospitality.org.uk


Welcome to The
Liverpool Hospitality People awards 2026
sponsored by Saffron Vanilla and Liverpool Accommodation BID, and hosted by Titanic Hotel.

The Liverpool Hospitality Association is delighted to announce the return of the Liverpool Hospitality People Awards for 2026, celebrating the outstanding individuals who power the city’s vibrant hospitality and visitor economy. Taking place in association with headline sponsors Liverpool Accommodation BID, Liverpool ONE and Saffron Vanilla, the awards recognise the talented people working across Liverpool’s hospitality sector — from hotels and restaurants to bars, attractions and visitor services. The event shines a spotlight on those who demonstrate exceptional passion, dedication and commitment within one of the region’s most dynamic industries. The 2026 awards will feature 16 categories, including Rising Star and Unsung Hero, celebrating both customer-facing staff and those working behind the scenes. In addition, the prestigious Judges’ and Chairman’s Awards — not open for public entry — will honour inspirational figures who have made a significant impact within the sector.

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Awards Sponsors

SV 1
LIV_ABID_logo (1)
L1 Logo Digital Master
TITANIC-HOTEL-LOGO-2017-red
Guide Liverpool Logo Thumb (1) (1) (7)
MSP-Logo-Black-bdot (1) (2)
WB Logo no background high res
Logo-15 (1)
Sugar _ Lime (1)
H_And_B_Primary_Colour_Logo_RGB
PIB
Visit master logo
Print
xr:d:DAFpRY7t0sQ:10,j:3578507132401426980,t:23072114
RW Photography
Expedia
Bexleys (1)
Alliance Logo (002) (1)
Fresh Direct Logo_colour
Gill's Puddings

A message from Our headline sponsors

“Saffron Vanilla is delighted to announce our fourth consecutive year supporting Liverpool Hospitality and the Liverpool Hospitality Awards 2026. Participating and sponsoring this prestigious event gives us immense pleasure, not just for the industry, but for the dedicated professionals who make it thrive. From chefs and front-of-house staff to bar workers, housekeepers, and office personnel, each one of you is the true unsung hero of this city. Saffron Vanilla, founded by local chef and entrepreneur Stephen Ramsden, has been proudly serving local and regional businesses with fully vetted professional chefs and hospitality workers since 2015. With over 100 local employees, we generate revenue for the local economy, create stability for the businesses we supply, and support local charities and events, including the Liverpool Hospitality Awards since 2023.
Stephen Ramsden Founder Saffron vanilla
“Liverpool Accommodation BID is thrilled to be a joint headline sponsor of the Liverpool Hospitality People Awards 2026. Hospitality is at the heart of Liverpool’s identity and visitor economy, and these awards shine a light on the people and businesses who make our city such a welcoming and vibrant place. We are proud to champion the sector through the Accommodation BID and to celebrate the passion, talent and commitment that drives it forward.”
Bill Addy Chief Executive
“Liverpool’s greatest strength has always been its people, whose warmth and generosity of spirit create an experience unlike anywhere else. These awards provide a vital platform to recognise those who go above and beyond to deliver outstanding service, helping our hospitality and retail sectors remain vibrant, resilient and future-focused.”
Donna Howitt Deputy Centre Director
“As General Manager of the Titanic Hotel Liverpool, I am extremely proud that we are once again hosting and acting as a key sponsor of the Liverpool Hospitality Association People Awards. This will be the seventh time we’ve welcomed the event, and it continues to be an important fixture in our calendar. We look forward to welcoming Liverpool’s hospitality professionals back to the hotel and recognising the outstanding people who underpin the success of our industry within our city.”
Brian Connor General Manager

Award Finalists

Rising Star Award sponsored by Titanic Hotel Liverpool

Alicja Lipowska, Housekeeping, Hope Street Hotel

Darby Williams, Duty Manager, Flight Club Liverpool

Elliot Mitchell, Trainee Guest Services Manager, Holiday Inn Express Liverpool Royal Albert Dock

Emily Quest, Marketing Apprentice, Liverpool City Halls (St George’s Hall)

Fred Lowe, Bar Team Member, Crowne Plaza Liv O’Sullivan, Events Assistant, BOXPARK Liverpool

 

Unsung Hero sponsored by The Hospitality Hero

Aubrey Edwards, Deputy General, Manager Slim Chickens

Craig Roe, Staff Restaurant Manager, Liverpool Football Club

Emily Lavender-Robinson, Reservations Administrator, Novotel Liverpool Paddington Village

Miroslav Turiak, Linen Porter, Leonardo Hotel Liverpool

Peter Wood, Concierge, The Halyard Liverpool

Zack Naylor, Breakfast Chef, Maldron Hotel Liverpool

 

Front of House Award sponsored by Hops & Barley

Grace Boyd Group, Sales & Events Co-ordinator, INNSiDE by Melia

Jon Ormrod, Concierge, Pullman Liverpool

Jonathan Addy, Concierge, Hilton Liverpool

Luca Toner, Graduate Management Trainee at Titanic Hotel Liverpool Titanic Hotel Liverpool

Manos Grigoriadis, Assistant Reception Manager, The Halyard Liverpool

Simone Ciannella, Front Office Supervisor, Radisson RED Hotel

 

Heart of House sponsored by Visit Isle Of Man

Adam Simpson, Maintenance Assistant, Maldron Hotel Liverpool

Alex Denisova, Accounts Assistant / Social Media Champion, Holiday Inn

Amirhossein Shaygan Momen, Kitchen Porter at Titanic Hotel Liverpool 

Chris Klein, Guest Experience Manager, Pullman Liverpool

Rachel Stevens, Finance Manager, Happy Days

Ram Meadows, Kitchen Porter, Liverpool Football Club

 

Excellence in Food Service sponsored by The Guide Liverpool

Abbi Metcalf, Supervisor, The Real Greek

Abi Welsh, Food & Beverage Host, Pullman Liverpool

Eva Peto, Assistant F&B Manager, The Municipal Hotel & Spa – MGallery Liverpool

Libby Strickland, Rum Warehouse Events Supervisor at Titanic Hotel Liverpool Titanic Hotel Liverpool

Marcio De Sousa, Food Services Team Member, Crowne Plaza

Rebekah Hughes, Food & Beverage Operations Manager, Malmaison Liverpool

 

Excellence in Bar Service sponsored by Wigan Beer

Adam Hughes, Mixologist at Manolo Manolo

Becca Minay, F&B Assistant, Maldron Hotel Liverpool

Jake Regan, Bar Team Member, The Real Greek

Toby Pickford, Bartender, Radisson RED Hotel

Tom Widdows, Food & Beverage Host, Pullman Liverpool

 

The Tracy Fearon Excellence in Retail Award sponsored by Liverpool ONE

Benn Carroll, Bath & Body Works

Chloe Evans, Manager, Jo Malone London

Shanna Major, & Other Stories

Sue O’Shea, Stylist, Jo Malone London

Veronica Pina, Zara

 

Young Chef of the Year sponsored by MSP Global

Alex Barbuntiou, Commis Chef, Crowne Plaza

Alfie Kennedy, Chef, The Halyard Liverpool

Nathan Murdock, Commis Chef, Titanic Hotel Liverpool

Rodrigo Gonzalez Egea, Commis Chef, Radisson RED Hotel

 

Chef of the Year sponsored by Sugar & Lime

Daryl Jackson, Junior Sous Chef, Pullman Liverpool

Dzhan Shefket, Meeting & Events Sou Chef, INNSIDE by Melia

Ghobad Molaei, Sous Chef, The Real Greek

Jesus Garcia, Sous Chef, Crowne Plaza

Joseph Craig Hird, Chef de partie, Lunya

Kelly Hughes, Sous Chef, L20 Restaurant at Hugh Baird College

Luke Sumners, Junior Sous Chef, NORD

 

Head Chef of the Year sponsored by Saffron Vanilla

Andrew Green, Executive Head Chef, The Municipal Hotel & Spa – MGallery Liverpool

Dave Upson, Executive Head Chef, Lunya

Kieran Wilson, Head Chef, NORD

Larry Whitbread, Head Chef, Leonardo Hotel Liverpool

Michele Tarantino, Head Chef, San Carlo Liverpool

Tim Adams Executive, Head Chef, Liverpool Football Club

 

Sales & Revenue Star sponsored by Expedia

Brian Churchill, Sales Manager, INNSiDE by Melia Liverpool

Cybelle Sant’ana, Reservations and Event Sales Manager, Holiday Inn

Daniel Fay, Sales and Events Manager, Flight Club Liverpool

Georgina Melling, Revenue & Sales Manager, Happy Days

Lesley Theadorous, Sales & Marketing Manager at BOXPARK Liverpool 

Michelle Melia, Sales & Accounts Manager, Radisson RED Hotel

Ryan Walker, Sales Manager, San Carlo

Saul Hamlett, Sales & Events Manager, ROXY Ball Room

 

Manager of the Year sponsored by Liverpool Accommodation BID

Dawn Wilson, HR Director, The Municipal Hotel & Spa – MGallery Liverpool

James Wilkinson, General manager, Baa Bar Group

Jamie Mooney, General Manager, Wingstop

Jenni Knott, Revenue Manager, Holiday Inn Express Liverpool Royal Albert Dock

Matt Philiskirk, Maintenance Manager, Pullman Liverpool

Tasha Godwin, General Manager, Bistro Franc

 

Top Team  sponsored by PIB Insurance

Breakfast Team, Holiday Inn Express Liverpool Royal Albert Dock

F&B Team, The Municipal Hotel & Spa – MGallery Liverpool

Front Office,  Delta Hotels by Marriott Liverpool City Centre

Jaloux Brunch Team, Jaloux

Kitchen Department at Titanic Hotel Liverpool Titanic Hotel Liverpool

Maintenance Team, Pullman Liverpool

 

There is no shortlist for the Judges’ Choice Award or the Liverpool Hospitality Chairman’s Award. Winners of both categories will be announced on the night.

 

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