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UK Restaurant Manager of the Year
2018

At Royal Garden - Kensington
8 January 2018

Kieran McLoughlin of Gravetye Manor Hotel was named the UK's Restaurant Manager of the Year during a prize-giving ceremony at the Royal Garden Hotel, London yesterday (8 January).

The UK Restaurant Manager of the Year competition, now in its ninth year, is run by the Academy of Food and Wine Service (AFWS), which was acquired by the Institute of Hospitality last year.

McLoughlin was one of four finalists who performed management role-playing scenarios in front of a live audience as well as being interviewed by industry leaders. He said: "This really validates what I have been doing with my life and it's a lovely payback to the people that I have worked with. The competition was very tough and represented the creme-de-la-creme of the industry and I’m very proud to be mentioned in the same breath as the other finalists."

The runner-up award went to Jennifter Santner, Sketch, London (far right), and the other two finalists were Nick Emmott, English's of Brighton and Rebecca Galland, The Vineyard Hotel, Berkshire.

Kieran will attend Spring or Summer School at The École hôtelière de Lausanne, Switzerland to study modules of his choice and enjoy the opportunity to network with other professionals on the course. The prize covers tuition, flights and accommodation. Kieran also wins a one-week stage at the stunning Hotel Hermitage in Monte Carlo, plus a magnum of Rueda wine and a magnum of Grand Cru Champagne André Jacquart. All finalists are given the opportunity to be mentored throughout the year post-event by leading industry figures.

The judges were:
Roy Sommer, chairman of The Food & Beverage Manager Association
Alper Zan, operations manager and hospitality consultant (Restaurant Manager of the Year 2014) Johanna Wimmer, training and development manager, The Ivy Collection
Rory Kelly-Naughton, hotel recruitment manager, Evolve Hospitality
Ian Sturrock, restaurant manager, The Arts Club (Restaurant Manager of the Year 2015)
Stephane Davaine Chantelle Nicholson, group operations director, Marcus Wareing Restaurants Matthew Mawtus, restaurant manager, 85 Piccadilly (Restaurant Manager of the Year 2016)
Romain Pottier, director of restaurants, Rhubarb
Ludovic Solmi, restaurant manager, Skylon

Kieron McLaughlin Restaurant Manager, Gravetye Manor, Sussex

Kieran McLoughlin

Jennifer Santner, Restaurant Manager, Lecture room and Library at Sketch, London

Jennifer Santner

Hatcs are proud to work with the AFWS to co-ordinate the competition tasks, judges, competitors and running of the competition on the day.

For further information please contact Suzanne.