Oxfordshire’s hospitality industry celebrated in style last night as 200 finalists, sponsors and VIPs packed out The North Wall last night at THE OXINABOX FOOD AWARDS 2026 where the winners of all 10 categories were announced after nearly 40,000 votes were cast by the public. HERE ARE THE FINALISTS
What a night we had in store; tears, emotions and jubilance all panning out, with some big surprises, lots of new names and some much loved favourites making the final cut.
Over 200 hospitality businesses in Oxfordshire were nominated, the public voted on their favourites, and over 40 finalists were then invited to THE OXINABOX FOOD AWARDS 2026.
The legendary Gennaro Contaldo was also in attendance to hand out the awards, alongside our incredible sponsors, so it really was a night to remember, with an incredible after party at OXTWO where everyone let their hair down and danced late into the night.
SO THE WINNERS OF THE OXINABOX FOOD AWARDS 2026 ARE:
Best Newcomer – Corn Room, Witney
Best Cafe – Waste2Taste, Cowley
Best Veggie/Vegan – Oxford Blue – East Oxford
Best Casual Dining – Dishoom Permit Room, Oxford
Best International – Django’s Smokehouse – Didcot
Best Gastropub – White Hart, Fyfield
Oxford Guild of Chefs Young Chef Of The Year – Will Barker
Best Pub/Bar – The Plough, West Hanney
Best Restaurant – Corn Room, Witney
Best Chef – James Erasmus – Feathered Nest
Oxfordshire Hospitality Woman Of The Year Award – Tess Taylor, Tap Social
Lifetime Achievement Award – Mike North, Nut Tree
The after party at OXTWO in Summertown carried on late into the night with cocktails, drinks nibbles, and a fantastic DJ who kept the dance floor pounding.
Thank you to our sponsors Wise Investment, Jolly Foods, The Oxford Collection, Oxford Fine Dining, Soma Collab, Hundred Hills, Tap Social and Grape Minds, without whom this would never have happened!
