The UK's Top New Restaurant Awards 2024: Meet the judges

By Sarah James

The UK's Top New Restaurant Awards 2024: Meet the judges

These foodies will be deciding the best new restaurants of the year

In March, we launched The UK's Top New Restaurant Awards for the first time ever - a list of the best new openings from the top to the toe of the country, as decided by a panel of esteemed judges. Now, we're preparing for the second year of this exciting set of foodie awards - and we've gathered a few judges in the know to help us. Each January, Condé Nast Traveller sits down with 10 respected names across the hospitality industry to discuss the previous year's most exciting new eateries - and land on a list of the best-of-the-best. Ahead of this year's session, we wanted to introduce the panel calling the shots this year.

Each January, Condé Nast Traveller gets together with its selected judging panel - over lunch, of course - to discuss and debate the merits of a shortlist of restaurants which have opened all across the UK during the previous calendar year. Together, we come up with a list of award-winning restaurants, as well as some special awards given to a handful of impressive people in the industry. In March, we throw a big party to celebrate all the winners.

This year, the judges include:

Keep reading to hear more from this year's judging panel - and keep your eyes peeled for the announcement of the winners next March!

Raymond Blanc OBE is a culinary icon renowned for his exceptional talent, innovation, and unwavering dedication to the art of French cuisine. Raymond Blanc enters his 40th year of retaining 2 Michelin Stars consecutively at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, A Belmond Hotel, Oxfordshire the place where gastronomy, gardens, and hospitality comes alive in stunning surroundings. As a pioneer of seasonality, sustainability, and sourcing locally, he proudly instils a garden-to-table ethos.

He told us, "It is always incredibly exciting to witness the emergence of new talent and culinary innovations. These awards celebrate the dedication, creativity, and passion that define our industry. As someone who has devoted their life to the art of gastronomy and mentoring protégés, it fills me with immense joy to see new chefs and restaurants being recognised for their hard work, creative force and teamwork in an ever-changing industry."

When asked what he's looking for in a winner, he said, "In a winner, I am looking for a combination of curiosity, passion, and an ambition to 'touch' excellence."

Chef Jackson Boxer cut his teeth in the hospitality business as a kitchen porter for Margot Henderson at 16. The experience was formative, and Jackson continued to pursue cooking jobs as he completed school and then a degree in English at Cambridge. He opened Brunswick House - intended to be a six-month pop-up - in Vauxhall in 2010. Since then, he's gone on to open some incredible restaurants, including Notting Hill hangout Orasay and 2023 Top New Restaurant Awards winner Cowley Manor.

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