On Sunday, in Auckland, at a Black-Tie event held at The Pullman Hotel, the Auckland hospitality industry acknowledged the outstanding abilities of their own with the announcement of the winners of the 17th annual Lewisham Awards. This year’s event was a sell-out, which is a tribute to the calibre of the finalists and highlights the high regard in which they are held.
The Lewisham Awards (named after the late Richard Lewisham, who was a pioneer of the Auckland hospitality scene) were established in 2002 with the main objective to encourage excellence in the city’s hospitality community. With this in mind, the best in the business are honoured by their peers once a year, as the industry comes together to celebrate their success.
Finalists and winners came from a mix of both new and well-established businesses, highlighting this dynamic and ever-changing industry and showing that Auckland hospitality remains in excellent heart.
Some categories, such as Outstanding Restaurateur and Outstanding Maître d’, were once again tightly fought, showing the depth of talent that we have in Auckland in our food and beverage offerings.
So, what are you waiting for – those in the know in hospitality have crowned these people and venues the best of the best – must be time to go and check them out!
Hello Beasty – Outstanding New Venue
Outstanding Waiter sponsored by Crombie Lockwood
Melodee Pearce, Prego
Outstanding Maitre’ d sponsored by antipodes water company
Lindsay Swannack, Prego
Outstanding Bartender sponsored by Winterhalter NZ
Bryan De Fenyi-Pollett, Deadshot
Outstanding Sales Representative sponsored by Restaurant Association of NZ
Angie Atkinson, Prophets Rock
Outstanding Wine List sponsored by EuroVintage
O’Connell Street Bistro
Outstanding Supplier sponsored by Hospitality New Zealand
Southern Hospitality
Outstanding Wine Service Professional sponsored by Negociants New Zealand
Hiro Kawahara, Sid at The French Cafe
Outstanding Local sponsored by Southern Hospitality
Andiamo
Outstanding Caterer sponsored by Hellers New Zealand
Little Wolf
Outstanding Cheap Eats sponsored by CLYTH MACLEOD
The White Lady
Outstanding Bar sponsored by Hancocks Wine, Spirit & Beer Merchants
Deadshot
Outstanding Barista sponsored by Meadow Fresh
Juno Jung – Atomic Kingsland
Outstanding Cafe sponsored by Bidfood
Crave
Outstanding New Venue sponsored by Asahi Beverages
Hello Beasty
Outstanding Establishment sponsored by OneMusic
Apero
Outstanding Producer sponsored by the recruitment network
Clevedon Buffalo Co
Outstanding Chef sponsored by Loaf
Sid Sahrawat – Sidart | Cassia | Sid at The French Cafe
Outstanding Restaurateur sponsored by Pernod Ricard New Zealand
Mandy Lusk – Vivace
Outstanding Hospitality Personality sponsored by Moët Hennessy New Zealand
Mark Wallbank – The Blue Breeze Inn | Woodpecker Hill | Chop Chop | GoGo Daddy Cantina
About The Lewisham Awards
The Lewisham Awards is an established event in the Auckland hospitality industry, where the best in the business are nominated and honoured by their peers. At the time of establishment in 2002, the main objective of the awards was to encourage excellence in the city’s hospitality community, with a view of raising the standards in all facets of the industry.
Organised by a dedicated committee of industry professionals, the Lewisham Foundation Awards are named in honour of colourful Auckland hospitality entrepreneur Richard Lewisham who helped establish the modern day eating and drinking scene in the ‘City of Sails’.
Lewisham Awards activities include a call for nominations in 19 categories which are then shortlisted to four finalists per category. Final voting concludes a week prior to a formal Awards Ceremony which precede an after party generally touted as The Party on Auckland’s hospitality calendar.