Kieran McLoughlin, 2018 UK Restaurant Manager of the Year

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 Monday 8th 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 Jennifer Santner, Sketch, London (far right), and the other two finalists were Nick Emmott, English’s of Brighton and Rebecca Galland, The Vineyard Hotel, Berkshire.