Graeme Cumine, restaurant manager of Simon Rogan’s Lake District flagship restaurant L’Enclume, has been presented with a top hospitality industry accolade.
The prestigious Awards, also known as the 30 under 30, celebrate the achievements of 30 of the industry’s brightest stars each year under the age of 30, recognising each individual award winner’s outstanding ability and success in their respective field within the sector.
The recipients of the 36th Acorn Awards were revealed at a glittering presentation weekend hosted at Rudding Park Hotel & Spa, Harrogate, (29 – 30th May) by The Caterer managing editor Lisa Jenkins and CH&Co chief operating officer Allister Richards.
Graeme now joins a cast of previous recipients who have won an Acorn, since the inaugural event hosted in 1986, including the likes of Marco Pierre White, Nicola Gartenberg, Marcus Wareing, Craig Jackson, and Sarah Tregoning.
Richards said: “The Acorn Awards shine a light on the positive innovation, opportunity and energy that define our industry. While our winners may represent different hospitality sectors and be on separate career paths, they have much in common. They have the intrinsic qualities that will see them become successful, compelling, and inclusive leaders – creativity, resilience, dedication, flair, agility, authenticity and much more.’’
Graeme Cumine commented: ‘’It still hasn’t sunk in that I’ve been presented with an Acorn Award but it’s definitely a career highlight alongside L’Enclume’s third Michelin star earlier this year. As an industry we’ve faced some tough times recently, which is why it’s more important than ever to highlight the opportunities the sector can provide to future generations, especially through initiatives like the Simon Rogan Academy. And it’s more important than ever that we nurture that talent as it develops, because it those people will become the next generation of restaurant managers, sommeliers, chefs, restaurateurs, and hoteliers if we take the time to look after them properly.’’
The 2022 Acorn Award winners:
Miles Baxter, group general manager, Houston & Hawkes
Lily Bell, account manager, BaxterStorey
Connor Black, head chef, the Bull & Bear
Jordan Burdall, golf academy manager, Rudding Park
Josh Chadwick, hotel manager, the Tawny
Graeme Cumine, restaurant manager, L’Enclume
Ethan Davids, co-owner, Chickpea Group
John Dickson, hotel manager, Dakota Hotels
Dorya Djebbar, people partner, CH&CO
Laura Dunphy, training and development manager, Cameron House on Loch Lomond
Chara Forrest, resident manager, the Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa
Ruth Hansom, head chef, Princess of Shoreditch
Kumiko Hiwatari, premier pastry sous chef, the Ritz London
Jacques Hobson, food and beverage manager, the Belfry Hotel & Resort
Craig Johnston, head chef, Marcus
Serafin Kapusta, food and beverage operations manager, InterContinental London Park Lane
Timothy Kendall, chef proprietor, T and T Pubs
Tabitha Kirby, deputy account manager, BaxterStorey
Will Lockwood, head chef, Roots York
Lilian Lubowitz, group sales manager, CH&CO
Deepak Mallya, premier sous chef, the Ritz London
Veikko Paananen, restaurant director, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park London
April Lily Partridge, sous chef, the Ledbury
Ryan Percopo, executive head chef, BaxterStorey
Sophie Shotton, general manager, Yorebridge House
Claire Small, director of innovation, Elior UK
Lydia Staniforth, recruitment marketing specialist, Delaware North
Ewen Thomas, general manager, Christian Conference Trust
Victoria Tweddell, human resources business partner, PPHE Hotel Group
Shaun Wright, revenue application and systems manager, Hand Picked Hotels
