Lewisham Awards 2026 Finalists Announced

20 April 2026

• The Lewisham Awards celebrate and champion the very best people and places in Auckland’s hospitality scene
• Finalists nominated for 19 awards by the hospitality industry
• Winners to be named at the 24th annual Lewisham Awards on 31 May 2026

The Lewisham Awards today revealed its 2026 finalists, recognising the city’s outstanding chefs, bartenders, establishments and producers.

This year’s finalists represent the very best of Tāmaki Makaurau’s dining and hospitality scene from emerging talent and neighbourhood favourites to industry leaders setting new benchmarks for excellence.

Across 19 categories, they are the bartenders building a loyal following one cocktail at a time, the chefs taking menus in unexpected directions, the front-of-house legends who make every guest feel like the most important person in the room, and the producers refining and elevating flavour.

The calibre of entries this year reflects both the strength and evolution of the sector.

“Hospitality has never been for the fainthearted,” says Award Committee Chairperson, Dan Sullivan. “It’s certainly not an easy time to be in hospitality, but that’s when the true stars of our industry shine. Our finalists are the ones pushing forward, innovating, adapting, and continuing to deliver exceptional experiences night after night.”

Nominated by the hospitality industry and selected by a panel of experienced judges, finalists were recognised across the Lewisham Awards’ “Outstanding” categories, including Emerging Hospitality Talent, Front-of-House, Cocktail Experience, Beer Experience, Wine Experience, Cocktail Experience, Sales Experience, Innovation and Sustainability, New Establishment, Café, Local Establishment (North, South, Waiheke & East, West, Central), Producer, Distributor, Bartender, Chef and Hospitality Hero.

Winners will be announced at the 25th annual Lewisham Awards, a festival-style “A Night with The Stars” event, on 31 May 2026.

The 2026 Lewisham Awards finalists are as follows:

Hancocks – Outstanding Bartender

Dewi Barbeiri – Truth or Dare

Justin Ydia – Gilt

Trent Brosnahan – Mo’s Bar

Vanessa Vega – Sky Bar

Long Burroughs – Outstanding Front of House

Dewi Barbieri – Truth or Dare

Emma Mondon – Prego

Philip Stack – First Mates, Last Laugh

Ryan Oliver – Panacea

Silver Fern Farms – Outstanding Emerging Hospitality Talent

Adhitia Firmansyah – Amano

Ellie Sims Hilditch – Amano

Oscar Norris – Prego

Leon Sittisart – Panacea

Hospitality NZ – Outstanding Sales Experience

Angie Atkinson – Blanc

Logan Richmond – Sawmill Brewery

Ryan Kennedy – Hancocks Family Merchants

Sam Vine – McLeods Brewery

Clyth MacLeod – Outstanding Producer

Clevedon Buffalo Co

Curious Croppers

Man O’ War

Urbanaut Brewing Co

Bidfood – Outstanding Café

D.O.S.E.

Re.union

Rumours

Two Little Chickens

Negociants New Zealand – Outstanding Wine Experience

Bare Wines

Gilt

Ground Wine Bar

Pici

Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey – Outstanding Cocktail Experience

Caretaker

Deadshot

Definitely Maybe

Truth or Dare

Lewisham Foundation – Outstanding Beer Experience

Northern Line

Sawmill Brewery

The Beer Spot

Two Fold

Bepoz – Outstanding Innovation & Sustainability

Ahi

Project Hydrosol

Sawmill Brewery

Truth or Dare

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners – Outstanding Distributor

Bidfood

Blanc

Hancocks Family Merchants

Tickety Boo

Blanc – Outstanding New Establishment

Agnes

Bistro Saine

Ground Wine Bar

Manaia Seafood Eatery

Mother

Red Bull – Outstanding Local Establishment – North

Cave á Vin

Cousin Scott’s

Duo

Moreno

Franklin Local Board – Outstanding Local Establishment – South

Bianca

Hill House Café

Little Jimmy

The Bramble

Lewisham Foundation – Outstanding Local Establishment – Waiheke & East

Man O’ War

Tantalus

The Heke

Three Seven Two

Water Boy

Eclectic Furniture – Outstanding Local Establishment – West

Bar Martin

Burnt Butter

Fabric

iTi

One Music – Outstanding Local Establishment – Central

Coco's Cantina

Mo’s bar

Prego

Truth or Dare

Anchor Food Professionals – Outstanding Chef

Jo Pearson – Alma

Andrew Hanson – Amano

Glen File – Gilt

Rio Pranata – Ambler

Restaurant Association of New Zealand – Outstanding Hospo Hero

Angie Atkinson – Blanc

Dany Dentith – Panacea

Renee Coulter – Coco’s Cantina

Theodore Tjandra – Truth or Dare

About the Lewisham Awards

Now in its 24th year, the Lewisham Awards is Auckland’s premier hospitality awards programme named in honour of Richard Lewisham, a pioneer of the city’s hospitality scene. Established in 2002, the Awards continue to play an important role in spotlighting the people and businesses driving the industry forward, while celebrating the diversity and creativity that defines Auckland hospitality.

The awards night itself reflects the spirit of the industry it celebrates: not a stuffy sit down dinner, but a lively, festival-atmosphere event where the whole community gathers to raise a glass to the people who make Auckland’s hospitality scene one of the best in the world.

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