Meet The Judges
Steve Dineen
Steve Dinneen the Life&Style editor at City AM and the editor of City AM The Magazine. He has a passion for gastronomy, writing about everything from fine dining to street food. Whether he’s covering the latest London opening or diving into global food culture, Steve writes with a mix of curiosity, insight, and a genuine love for good eating.
City AM Life & Style Editor - Head Judge
Kate leads the Eastern City BID – one of the largest occupier BIDs in the UK by income and one of the newest BIDs in the City of London, established in April 2022. With a background in communications and destination marketing, Kate has more than 20 years’ experience working for corporate and consumer clients, in both the public and private sectors. Prior to taking up her role at Eastern City, she was Director of External Affairs at Primera, the London based global place leadership consultancy.
Kate Hart
CEO Eastern City BID
Tom Sellers
Chef patron Restaurant Story
Martin Williams
CEO at Evolv (formerly D&D London)
Martin Williams is a British restaurateur and the CEO of Evolv Group (formerly D&D London). With a background in hospitality and a passion for high-quality dining, he’s helped shape the modern steakhouse scene in the UK after running Gaucho and M Restaurant. Martin is known for blending luxury with sustainability, championing carbon-neutral beef and creating innovative restaurant concepts.
Tom Sellers is a British chef and the founder of Restaurant Story in London, which earned a Michelin star shortly after opening. He’s known for using food to tell personal and creative stories, often inspired by his life and memories. Trained under top chefs like Tom Aikens and René Redzepi, Tom combines fine dining with a strong sense of narrative. His cookbook, A Kind of Love Story, reflects his approach to cooking and the journey behind it.
Yasmin Jaunbocus
Head of PR at Hot Sauce
Yasmin Jaunbocus is a food writer and public relations professional with a passion for the culinary world. As Head of PR at Hot Sauce Presents, she collaborates with notable chefs and restaurants to highlight diverse food cultures. Yasmin contributed a Mauritian recipe to the Community Comfort cookbook, supporting underrepresented communities in the UK and was featured in the inaugural issue of Vittles magazine
Allen Simpson
Deputy Chief Executive of UKHospitality
Allen Simpson is Deputy Chief Executive of UKHospitality, responsible for championing the nation's pubs, restaurants and hotels. He brings his experience spanning marketing, tourism, and big-league finance – from London & Partners to Barclays and the London Stock Exchange – to support the vibrant UK hospitality scene.
Libby Brodie
Wine columnist at City AM
Libby Brodie is a wine consultant, writer, and presenter dedicated to making wine approachable and fun. She is the founder of Bacchus & Brodie Wine Consultancy and serves as the wine columnist for City AM, where her Wine Without The Snobbery column demystifies wine for readers.
James Robson
Founder Fallow, Roe
James Robson is a British food entrepreneur and co-founder of Fallow, one of London’s most talked-about sustainable restaurants. With a background in hospitality and a focus on ethical sourcing, James plays a key role in pushing forward ideas around zero-waste cooking and responsible dining. He’s passionate about building restaurants that combine creativity, sustainability, and good food without compromise.
Tony Matharu
Founder Blue Orchid
Tony Matharu is an entrepreneur and philanthropist. He founded Integrity International Group and is the chairman of Blue Orchid Hotels. Tony transformed Grange Hotels into a collection of London’s top properties and now focuses on revitalising heritage sites, including the Tower Suites and a luxury hotel at 55 Broadway.
Gareth Banner
Group Managing Director of The Ned
Gareth Banner is Group Managing Director of The Ned, where he has worked since 2016. He was honoured as the UK Hotelier of the Year by The Caterer. He has previously worked for The Cavendish London, The Hempel and St Pancras Renaissance Hotel. Gareth is a Master Innholder, a Freeman of the Worship Company of Haberdashers and has been granted the Freedom of the City of London.