Top UK Restaurants, Pubs & Bars named in the Casual Dining Awards 2026 Shortlist
The Casual Dining Awards have revealed the shortlisted hospitality businesses in the running to win a top industry accolade. The prestigious awards will bring together the UK’s leading multi-site restaurants, pubs and bars, shining a spotlight on excellence and innovation across the hospitality industry.
Leading brands and operators including wagamama, Hawksmoor, Caravan, Fuller’s, ASK Italian, The Alchemist, Stonegate Group, Pho, Bill’s, Mitchells & Butlers, Honest Burgers, Dishoom, Loungers (and others) have made the shortlist.
The Casual Dining Awards in association with The National Restaurant, Pub & Bar Show (formerly Casual Dining) is organised by Diversified UK & Europe, and the winners will be announced at the lavish 5-star London Marriott Hotel in Grosvenor Square on 23 April, by a celebrity host to be announced soon.
The awards categories include noteworthy titles such as Pub/Bar Brand of the Year, Restaurant Brand of the Year, Opening of the Year, New Concept of the Year, Menu Innovation Award, Brand Marketing of the Year, Best Designed Site of the Year, Sustainable Operator, Casual Dining Group of the Year and more.
The Trailblazer of The Year Award sponsored by Uber Eats will also be announced on the night of the awards.
The Casual Dining Awards 2026 shortlist in full:
LEGENDARY BRAND – sponsored by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
- ASK Italian
- Bella Italia
- Côte
- Miller & Carter
- Toby Carvery
NEW CONCEPT OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Brakes a Sysco Company
- BLOODsports
- CARMELA’S
- Crisp Pizza @ The Marlborough
- TANGRA
- TIGERMILK
OPENING OF THE YEAR – sponsored by United UK
- BOX – Piccadilly
- Brother Marcus – Canary Wharf
- Burger & Lobster – Brighton
- Circolo Popolare – Manchester
- Crisp Pizza @ The Marlborough – Mayfair
- Hawksmoor – St Pancras
- Sanfords American Diner & Loft Bar (TRGC) – London Luton Airport
SUSTAINABLE OPERATOR AWARD – sponsored by Amber
- Big Mamma Group
- Blacklock
- Caravan
- Faber
- Pizza Pilgrims
- Rockfish
- Wahaca
EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR (1-49 SITES) – sponsored by Howden
- Big Mamma Group
- Brother Marcus
- Dishoom
- Hawksmoor
- Hoppers
- Mowgli
- Pizza Pilgrims
- TRGC
EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR (50+ SITES)
- Arcturus Group
- Greene King
- Loungers
- Nando’s
- Stonegate Group
- The Restaurant Group
MENU INNOVATION AWARD (1-25 SITES) – sponsored by Fresh Direct
- Blacklock
- Brother Marcus
- Bundobust
- Caravan
- Nell’s
- Tonkotsu
- Wahaca
MENU INNOVATION AWARD (26+ SITES) – sponsored by The National Restaurant, Pub & Bar Show
- Bill’s
- Franco Manca
- Honest Burgers
- Pho
- Prezzo Italian
- Turtle Bay
- wagamama
BRAND MARKETING OF THE YEAR
- Bill’s
- Nando’s
- Nell’s
- Pho
- Pizza Pilgrims
- Prezzo Italian
- wagamama
BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY – sponsored by HGEM
- Azzurri Group
- Bill’s
- BOX
- Flight Club
- J D Wetherspoon
- Prezzo Italian
- Vagabond
BEST DESIGNED SITE OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Northern Restaurant & Bar
- Barbarella – Canary Wharf – with Studio Kiki (In-House)
- BOX – Piccadilly – (In-House)
- Brother Marcus – Canary Wharf – with Finch Interiors
- Hawksmoor – St Pancras – with Macaulay Sinclair
- Prezzo Italian – Kensington – with Surface-id
- The Marlborough – Mayfair – (In-House)
BEST FAMILY DINING EXPERIENCE
- Bill’s
- Hickory’s
- PizzaExpress
- Pizza Pilgrims
- wagamama
- Zizzi
PUB/BAR BRAND OF THE YEAR (1-49 SITES) – sponsored by Carlsberg Britvic
- BOX (Arc Inspirations)
- Mr Fogg’s (Inception Group)
- The Alchemist
- The Botanist (NWTC)
- The Devonshire
PUB/BAR BRAND OF THE YEAR (50+ SITES)
- Brunning & Price
- Fuller’s
- Greene King
- J D Wetherspoon
- Lounge
- Stonegate Group
- Urban Pubs & Bars
- Young’s
RESTAURANT BRAND OF THE YEAR (1 – 19 SITES) – sponsored by Carlsberg Britvic
- Blacklock
- Burger & Lobster
- Caravan
- Dishoom
- Hawksmoor
- Lina Stores
RESTAURANT BRAND OF THE YEAR (20-50 SITES) – sponsored by Bidfood
- Big Mamma Group
- Bill’s
- Flat Iron
- Mowgli
- Pizza Pilgrims
- Rosa’s Thai
- Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana
RESTAURANT BRAND OF THE YEAR (51+ SITES) – sponsored by MOTH Drinks
- Miller & Carter
- Nando’s
- Pho
- PizzaExpress
- Prezzo Italian
- wagamama
CASUAL DINING GROUP OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Reynolds
- Arcturus Group
- Azzurri Group
- The Big Table Group
- JKS Restaurants
- Loungers
- Mitchells & Butlers
- The Restaurant Group
The judges
The awards will be judged by an esteemed list of industry judges, including Ajith Jayawickrema, Founder Director, Turtle Bay; Anni Opong, Managing Director, Arc Inspirations; Brian Trollip, CEO, Dishoom; Christine Martin, Co-Founder, Peach20/20 & Boardwalk, David Campbell, Chair, Ole & Steen/Rare Restaurants; Gavin Adair, CEO, Teamsport Indoor Go Karting; Jo Fleet, Managing Director, Caravan; Jon Knight, CEO, TRGC; Kate Nicholls OBE, Chair, UKHospitality; Libby Andrews, Marketing Director, Pho; Mark McCulloch MBE, CMO, Prezzo Italian; Nisha Katona MBE, Founder Director, Mowgli Street Food; Peter Martin, Co-Founder, Peach 20/20; Shereen Ritchie, Group CEO, Kuvi Hospitality & Co-Founder, Boardwalk; Steve Herring, Event Manager, Casual Dining Awards & The National Restaurant, Pub & Bar Show; Thom Elliot, Co-Founder, Pizza Pilgrims; and Will Beckett, Co-Founder & CEO, Hawksmoor.
Book your ticket
The Casual Dining Awards 2026 take place at London Marriott, Grosvenor Square on Thursday 23 April. As well as a drinks reception and a 3-course meal, a major celebrity entertainer will be announced as the host soon. Tickets are on sale now and are already selling fast. To secure your spot, please visit www.cdawards.co.uk/buy-tickets.
The National Restaurant, Pub & Bar Show 2026
Defining the future of hospitality, The National Restaurant, Pub & Bar Show (formerly, Casual Dining) returns to Excel London on 16-17 September 2026. The show will co-locate with lunch!, Natural & Organic Food Show and The Artisan Food & Drink Show. For more information, please visit www.nrpbs.co.uk.