James Ellams Named One of Hospitality’s Rising Stars at 2025 Acorn Awards

The Acorn Awards – known as The Caterer’s 30 under 30 – recognises the brightest prospects in the hospitality industry.

Run in association with our headline sponsor CH&CO, the awards recognise the flair and passion of the most talented individuals in hospitality.

Since its inception in 1986, we have awarded this coveted prize to well over 1,000 rising stars, with many going on to prestigious careers in the industry.

Past winners represent every sector of the hospitality industry and include the likes of Marco Pierre White, Jamie Oliver,Tommy Banks, Zoe Jenkins, Jason Atherton and the current Hotelier of the Year Gareth Banner.

Acorns are nominated by their peers for making an impression and inspiring others in their sector.

The Caterer receives hundreds of nominations every year which are carefully considered by our respected panel of judges to choose the 30 most deserving Acorns.

The 30 winners are then invited to a winners’ weekend to celebrate their achievements with their fellow Acorns and nominators.

This year’s event will be held at the Dakota Hotel Manchester on 1 and 2 June 2025.

Thirty of the hospitality industry’s rising stars under the age of 30 have been honoured at the 2025 Acorn Awards.

The event, which is run by The Caterer and sponsored by CH&Co, is now in its 39th year and recognises some of the top up-and-coming talent across the sector.

The top 30 winners were chosen by seven judges from a competitive field of nominations. Judges included former Acorns Charlotte Horler, head of meetings and events at Birmingham City Football Club, Rachael Stevens, rooms division manager at Pennyhill Park, and Liam Hatcher, head of people and development at CH&Co.

Each winner was nominated by their peers in the hospitality industry for their outstanding achievements and successes in their field.

This year’s Acorns gathered on Sunday 1 June to celebrate over a fun-packed winners’ weekend at Dakota’s canalside hotel in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

During the three-course lunch, CH&Co’s chief operating officer Allister Richards and The Caterer’s deputy editor Caroline Baldwin presented all 30 Acorns with their awards, highlighting each individual’s key achievements.

After congratulating this year’s cohort, Richards highlighted the significance of a “leadership shadow” and the value of mentoring across generations, emphasising the need for both formal mentoring and also by “showing up every day and leading through behaviours”. 

Richards added: “My hope for you is that you use this as a springboard to amplify your impact across the industry, and take the fun and the connections from this weekend that I hope you will carry with you for life and continue with a wonderful career in, what is, a fantastic industry.”

James says, “ Over the weekend I made some great friends in the wider hospitality industry, who will undoubtedly remain friends for future years.

I have received many messages of congratulations from people in our industry which has been really great.”

What excites you most about hospitality? 

“Every day is different and you meet such interesting and inspiring  people. I love the way the industry has shaped me. I enjoy putting my skills and knowledge together to meet new challenges, to continually learn and to share good practice with others within my sector.”

What does an Acorn Award mean to you?

“I am incredibly honoured to receive such an award. I would say I’m probably not your typical Acorn candidate. I left school with no qualifications but hospitality has given me the opportunity to flourish and be offered such an exciting future. I can now be really proud about what I have achieved.”