Welcome to the OXINABOX FOOD AWARDS 2025 and here is our exciting fourth category OXFORDSHIRE HOSPITALITY WOMAN OF THE YEAR 2025, a brand new award created to celebrate the incredible women we have here in the county. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
The awards will be held on Monday May 12 at The Ashmolean, with a fabulous after party at Dishoom’s Permit Room in Oxford.
Sponsored by headliners Goldstar Recruitment and The Feathers, with Brandpay and Jolly Foods, as well as Oxford Fine Dining and Grape Minds on board, and Raymond Blanc of Le Manoir fame lined up to host, the voting has begun.
In alphabetical order, the OXFORDSHIRE HOSPITALITY WOMAN OF THE YEAR 2025 nominees are:
Aimee Collins – Five Little Pigs, Wallingford and The Bear in North Moreton – not only does Aimee’s food set her apart with her beautifully nostalgic and novel menus, but her passion for sustainability and seasonality runs through everything she does, which is no doubt why Five Little Pigs is in the Michelin Guide and The Good Food Guide. She also ensures that her local community is involved in everything she does from pop-ups to cocktails on the clumps, festival catering and foraging. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
Ashleigh Ferrand, Kingham Plough – taking on the role of head chef aged just 23 at such a prestigious pub was always going to be a big deal, but Ashleigh made it her own. Taking part in this year’s Great British Menu only adds to the kudos, providing her with the perfect opportunity to encourage other young women into the industry. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
Beccy Webb, Chester Arms, East Oxford – The Chester’s notoriety and constant popularity shows no signs of waning thanks to the devotion Beccy gives to this East Oxford favourite where the punters queue down the road for their famous steak platters and Sunday roasts. Run like clockwork, its community vibe and friendly atmosphere are a credit. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
Bernadette Petrillo, Branca, Jericho – the driving force behind the endlessly popular and enduring restaurant, alongside her husband Paul, working away behind the scenes and driving its constant innovation with the addition of the deli and the deli counter restaurant weekday concept which has taken off beautifully. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
Catriona Galbraith, The Greyhound, Letcombe Regis – opening a gastropub in a tiny village in Oxfordshire and establishing it firmly on the culinary map is no mean feat, but its reputation proceeds it thanks to Catriona’s constant vigil and determination, its homely, historic vibe matched by the stunning food. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
Claire Alexander, Killingworth Castle, Wootton – when she took on the dilapidated pub with her husband Jim it was a labour of love. Turning it into the award-winning hostelry that is is today is no mean feat, but ensuring standards never slip and keeping it at the top of its game is quite another, which, in the current climate, is a huge achievement. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
Chloe Horner, Chloe’s in Charlbury, won Best Newcomer in last year’s OXINABOX FOOD AWARDS after opening her great little restaurant in the Cotswold town. And by ensuring that Chloe’s works around her family, she rewrote the rule book. A great advocate of encouraging more women into the industry, she hosts regular female networking forums, pop ups and boasts an all female team. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
Fanny Clemente, Il Corno, Oxford – not letting anything like age, nationality or gender get in the way of her vision, Il Corno is not only a family affair but born of a dream Fanny had as a student here to bring a corner of her beloved Naples to Oxford. Nestling in The Covered Market her delicious street food offering is enhanced by exciting and eclectic talks and events which are hugely well attended, broadening all of our minds through food, culture and a winning smile. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
Florence Fowler, Magdalen Arms, East Oxford – Opening one of the first gastropubs in the country, despite the constant change in palates and trends, Florence ensures that the famous Maggie Arms still reigns supreme. Always a breath of fresh air, its wonderful food and communal ethos continues unabated, thanks t Florence and her other half Tony in the kitchens working his magic. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
Julia Atkinson, Happy Cakes, Oxford’s cupcake supremo, Julia makes Oxford a better place, popping up everywhere with her quirky and much loved designs, as coveted by so many celebrities from Kiefer Sutherland to Shaun Evans, spreading happiness whoever she goes. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
Julie Kleeman, Taste Tibet, East Oxford – Such a passionate and inspiring woman, Julie not introduced some truly delicious Tibetan food to Oxford, alongside her husband Yeshi, but enabled the business to shine beyond Magdalen Road. The ensuing cookery book, TV appearances, festival pop-ups and so much more mean that not only is Tibetan food now a recognised cuisine but that the country itself and her children’s heritage is far more understood. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
Kay Chandler, White Hart, Fyfield – another doyenne in the culinary field, Kay ensures that this award-winning pub never rests on its laurels and stays at the top of its game. Its continual excellence and slick operation is largely a result of Kay’s continual enthusiasm to make sure the wheels keep turning, always with a smile on her face. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
Ladd Thurston, Elle’s Deli, East Oxford – we may miss her culinary dexterity in Oli’s Thai, but Ladd changed the equation to make sure that her work and cooking worked in tandem with her family life, in particular her children. Changing tack and manning Elle’s Deli during the day instead, her cheffing skills are as in demand as ever, her pop-ups and take-aways ensuring that we can all still get a hit of her infamous Thai menus when we need them. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
Laura Wiedemann, Pompette, Summertown. Since opening in 2018, Laura mans the fort while her husband Pascal runs the kitchens. Responsible for the design as well as the daily management, she has ensured that this vibrant restaurant and its Alsace-Lorraine style of cooking remains as popular as ever. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
Luciana Gyuricza, Sartorelli’s, Market Cellar and Teardrop in Oxford’s Covered Market, Fire & Wine in Milton-under-Wychwood and Church Hanbrewery – The ability to constantly evolve and seize new opportunities with both hands has enabled what started out as a micro-brewery to expand immeasurably, without ever losing its local ethos and family bent, thanks to Luciana’s visioanary approach, hard work and enthusiasm for the business. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
Lula Kinnaird, Lula’s Ethiopian, Oxford – Brought an entirely novel and largely unknown cuisine to Oxford city centre with great style and determination, setting up in Community Works on Park End Street with a bright, accessible and welcoming space, lots of pop ups and a new jazz offering. A hugely important part of the local community and prime example of what you can do when you set your mind to it. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
Mariella Montenegro and Bethany Taylor, Las Chicas, Faringdon. Owner Mariella Montenegro and her team share a passion for Mediterranean and Latin American food and drink, and together with Beth (who’s been cooking professionally since she was 14) have created a fun and booming tapas business which has won several of our OXINABOX FOOD AWARDS. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
Oxford Fine Dining’s Sue Randall, Della Hutton, Norma Bennett and Melissa Bennett. The four female directors of this incredibly successful events catering company prove what a great collective of forward thinking and committed women can do. Not only do they look after their staff, but their stellar and sophisticated offering is run with calm efficiency and great humour, their attention to detail and continual ability to evolve enabling OFD to remain continually relevant. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
Phoebe Hall, The Edge, Witney – anyone who has eaten at The Edge will have fallen in love with Phoebe’s adventurous, vibrant and fearless global street food. Having returned from her travels and inspired by the international flavours she opened her own place with her partner Tom, taking pride of place in the kitchens. And with another big project on the horizon she continues to flourish as The Edge goes from strength-to-strength. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
Priya Watson, The Golden Ball, Lower Assendon – worked as front of house at Jason Atherton’s Little Social, The Square, Gymkhana and Brigadiers before opening up shop with her husband Ben, it’s proving a winning combination, especially as the menu is a mix of the two, her Punjabi influences and effortless hospitality really making them stand out in a county flooded with gastropubs. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
Rebecca Mofford, The Oxford Collection – pivotal to the ongoing success of Gees, Quod, Old Parsonage and The Old Bank Hotel, as Director of Operations she ensures the smooth running of some of Oxford’s most revered institutions with a calm, friendly and stylish demeanour that belies the hugely professional role. One of Oxford’s best. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
Sally Moore, Kingsley Cafe, Eynsham – one of the best FOH’s in the business, Sally spreads joy and brilliance wherever she goes, her calm efficiency and whirlwind capabilities now firmly ensconced at Kingsley Cafe, transforming it into a bustling hub, the perfect foil for her partner Patrick’s skills in the kitchens. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
Sandra Ruge, Waste2Taste – Where to start? One of life’s brilliant people, she not only heads up the inspiring food waste charity, but cooks like an angel, ensures the business is a success and has a kind word for everyone she comes across. Indefatigable, brave and fearless she is an asset to Oxfordshire. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
Shannon Mulholland, Nest, The Feathers. Cooking her heart out with her partner head chef Luke Rawicki, balancing the culinary scales with her dexterity and focus, as an expert sous chef she brings a novel, refined element to the fine dining table – proving that two minds are better than one. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
Tess Taylor, Tap Social – another champion of the industry, as the original founder of Tap Social and instigator of its ongoing expansion, her work to rehabilitate prisoners and make a difference, as well as providing us with some mighty fine bakeries, bars and beer continues without any fuss or bother, despite the incredible difference Tap makes to the world and its determination to change the status quo. VOTE HERE https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
There are 10 categories and we will be announcing one every day for the next 10 days. These include BEST NEWCOMER, BEST PUB/BAR, BEST CAFE, BEST RESTAURANT, BEST VEGGIE/VEGAN OFFERING, BEST CHEF, BEST GASTROPUB, BEST INTERNATIONAL, BEST FOOD HERO and HOSPITALITY WOMAN OF THE YEAR
The top four nominations from each category will be invited to the glittering ceremony where the winners will be announced, so get voting and pick your favourite.
You can only vote once in each category, so keep voting every day for all 10 categories! Voting ends at the beginning of May. Vote here https://www.surveyhero.com/c/rx9yazyg
