Toast the City

Awards 2025

The City of London is a thriving hub for some of London’s most innovative restaurants, bars and cultural projects. The Toast the City Awards 2025 will recognise the institutions new and old – and the men and women behind them – that have helped build the Square Mile into one of the most vibrant areas of London, for workers and visitors alike  

We have enrolled some of the biggest names in hospitality to pick the very best pubs, restaurants, entertainment hot-spots, sandwich shops and outdoor spaces, all nominated by our readers. We will recognise the best-of-the-best and throughout the year we’ll be featuring interviews and profiles with nominees.

The Toast the City Awards will take place at a top secret venue in the City of London. The night will be unexpected, relaxed and – most importantly – fun! To pull this off we’ve partnered with the City of London BIDs – they know The City of London inside out and we’re thrilled to work with them. Nominations open Thursday 22nd May.

Click here for all the latest Toast news

  • 22nd May – Nominations open

  • 31st July – Nominations close

  • 1st September – Shortlist confirmed and voting re-opens

  • 1st October – Voting closes

  • October – Toast the City Awards & Winners announced

Key dates:

The Toast Zone

You might notice on our map that the Toast Zone is not quite the same as the official Square Mile. Guilty! We couldn't resist including a bit more of London to squeeze in even more of the places our readers love. The Toast Zone will stretch from Chancery Lane to Aldgate East and from the river up to Barbican and north of Liverpool Street. If you're not sure if your favourite spot falls in our catchment area, drop us an email at events@cityam.com 

Toast The City Categories 2025

  • Best City Restaurant

    A restaurant that defines dining in the Square Mile, serving up exceptional food and warm hospitality in a setting that speaks to both business and leisure, with deep roots in the City community.

  • Best City Bar

    Stylish, inventive, and expertly mixed, this award will go to the bar that delivers standout drinks and slick service with an atmosphere that means you never want to leave.

  • Best City Boozer

    A timeless pub full of charm, history and heart, where the ales are perfect, the regulars feel like family, and the Square Mile spirit is always on tap.

  • Best Late Night Venue

    A go-to destination after dark that goes beyond drinks. Judges will be looking for somewhere with live music, late-night bites or entertainment that keeps the City buzzing into the early hours

  • Best Cultural Experience

    A creative spark in the heart of the City – this experience could be thought-provoking, connected to the City’s rich heritage and culture, or simply great fun. Whether an art gallery, museum or area of cultural importance, it will stand out in the Square Mile.

  • Best Team Experience

    Perfect for bonding, celebrating, or just letting off steam, this group-friendly experience will be fun, easy to book, and unforgettable for teams of all types.

  • Best Members Experience

    Exclusivity meets personality in this members-only experience, with top-tier service, curated events, and a City identity that shines through in every detail.

  • Best Family Experience

    A brilliant reason to head into the Square Mile at the weekend, this winner will be welcoming, engaging, and full of fun. It will get the family formula just right, be that through great programming, excellent food or unforgettable activities.

  • Best Fitness Experience

    The City is home to some of the best gyms in the land, from group classes that push your fitness levels to one-on-one boutiques and more meditative experiences. But which one has that extra edge?

  • Best Beer Garden

    An outdoor haven that perfectly balances a relaxed vibe with top-notch drinks and delicious food. It should also reflect the unique atmosphere of the City of London.

  • Best Roof Terrace

    Skyline views with standout vibes – the winner of this category will be an open-air gem where great food, delicious drinks and clever design come together, whatever the weather.

  • Best Overnight Stay

    A stay that captures the essence of the City – judges will be looking for somewhere luxurious, service-led and packed with thoughtful touches that reflect the Square Mile’s unique character.

  • Best Breakfast

    From power breakfasts to a leisurely start to the day, the winner of this award will serve high-quality dishes and top-tier coffee in a setting that kicks off the day in style.

  • Best Coffee

    At City AM we’re serious about our coffee so we want to reward the institution making the perfect cup, be it a flat white served from a van or an espresso in a fine dining restaurant.Description goes here

  • Best Sandwich

    The City’s ultimate snack, packed with flavour and made with care. Judges will award the kind of sandwich that keeps workers coming back day after day. The definition of ‘sandwich’ will be broad – if you have amazing tacos or killer pita bread, please apply!

  • Best Hidden Gem

    Everyone has their favourite tucked-away place. The winner of this award will be somewhere that’s full of unexpected charm and with a magic all its own. The winner could be anything from a hidden churchyard to a hole-in-the-wall restaurant.

  • Best Dish

    A standout dish or dining experience that elevates eating in the City to an art form. It will offer exceptional quality, unforgettable flavours, and that certain je ne sais quoi that stays with you long after the last bite.

Nominate Now

Meet The Judges

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.

Steve Dinneen

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

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.

Martin Williams

CEO at Evolv (formerly D&D London)

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.

Tom Sellers

Chef patron Restaurant Story

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.

Libby Brodie

Wine columnist at City AM

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.

James Robson

Founder Fallow, Roe

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

Yasmin Jaunbocus

Head of PR at Hot Sauce

Founder Blue Orchid

Tony Matharu

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. 

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.

Allen Simpson

Deputy Chief Executive of UKHospitality

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.

Gareth Banner

Group Managing Director of The Ned

Tun Shin is a London-based travel, lifestyle and food photographer and content creator. His photography tells stories about food, destinations and culture, and focuses on topics including nostalgia, seasonality and provenance. He's as likely to recommend the hottest new London pop-up as he is the bougiest country manor hotel escape.

Tun Shin

Food Photographer & Content Creator

Lylaa, or saltandshaikh to her 170,000 Instagram followers, posts about underrepresented cuisines from around the world. She is based in London and loves London's culinary scene. Thousands love her hilarious videos where she eats her way around the very best of the capital

Lylaa Ali Shaikh

Food Influencer

Adam writes about food and drink for City AM. A lover of culture both high and low, he's just as likely to be found in one of the Square Mile’s disco-themed late-night bars as in one of its brilliant restaurants.

Adam Bloodworth

City AM Journalist

David is an award winning London tour guide, TikTok star and Magician. Formerly a Vice President at Deutsche Bank, he retrained as a City of London Guide in 2017, took early retirement in 2020 and now has over 750 5 star TripAdvisor reviews, 360,000 followers on TikTok and is a member of the prestigious Magic Circle.

David Harry

AKA TheLondonSpy

Jaspreet is an elected representative for the Vintry Ward in the City of London, where she supports local businesses and the vibrant food and drink scene. Her work combines a love for exceptional wine with a commitment to enhancing London’s hospitality sector. She is also a Commercial Account Manager at Goedhuis Waddesdon and a board member at Barbican Centre.

Jaspreet Hodgeson

Vintry Ward, City of London; Goedhuis Waddesdon; Barbican Centre

Nominations Are Now Open!

The Toast Awards 2025 Terms & Conditions

Nominees must be businesses operating within the shown geographical area on the map as highlighted on this website.

Nominations open on Thursday 22nd May 2025 and can be submitted by customers, employees, or members of the public. Self-nominations are also accepted.

A business can be nominated in as many categories as deemed suitable.

Multiple "spam" submissions from a nominator for the same nominee in one chosen category will not be accepted. Only one vote will count.

By submitting a nomination, nominators and nominees agree to the use of their names, business names, photographs, and submitted materials for promotional purposes related to the awards.

Nominees may be asked to participate in media interviews and promotional activities.

Nominations close on Thursday 31st July 2025 at 11.59pm. Late submissions will not be considered.

The six finalists from each category will be announced on the Toast Awards Website and contacted via email on Monday 1st September 2025. Nominations will re-open again to the public to vote on the six finalists in each category.

Voting closes to the Public on 1st October 2025 The winner in each category will be agreed by the Judging panel taking into consideration the votes from the Public.

The judges' decisions are final and binding. No correspondence will be entered into regarding their decisions. 

The winners will be announced at the Toast Awards in October - exact date to be confirmed.

City AM reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions at any time.

All personal data collected during the nomination process will be handled in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).

Our Partners

Business Partnerships and Business Improvement Districts give a voice to business communities – championing local priorities and ensuring the right people are at the decision table. Businesses understand that together they can be stronger; lobbying on big, strategic issues that impact on their commercial performance and ability to grow. This is not a case of the private sector plugging public sector funding gaps, but genuine collaboration and collective action.

The five City BIDS – Eastern City, Culture Mile, Aldgate Connect, Cheapside and Fleet Street Quarter, are part of the Primera portfolio, a specialist regeneration company which is a global leader in this area.

To find out more about the City of London BIDS click here.