Aulis

National Restaurant Awards

Simon Rogan wins Outstanding Industry Contribution Award

On Monday, I received the Outstanding Industry Contribution Award by National Restaurant Awards and I’m so grateful. I didn’t think I’d get one of these until I was on death’s door, so hopefully there’s still a bit of life left in me yet.⁠

And it wasn’t just a special night for me, my teams were recognised in the Top 100 UK with Henrock coming in at no.40 and Tom Barnes' Skof taking the 29th spot. I’m so proud of Mark McCabe, who was nominated in the Chef to Watch category alongside some incredible talent. He definitely is a chef to watch, so make sure you try his cooking at Henrock. ⁠

Receiving this award made me think about the journey I’ve been on to get here and I can’t quite believe that L’Enclume turns 25 next year. It’s been an incredible ride, with plenty of highs, plenty of lows, but over that time, I’ve been lucky enough to work with some unbelievably talented people. Chefs, growers, front of house teams, producers and friends who have all played a part in getting us to where we are today.⁠

I’m so proud of what L’Enclume stands for today and how it continues to inspire people all over the world. The values we built in Cartmel, all those years ago, still drive us every day. And we carry that spirit with us wherever we go, from events to our restaurants in Malta, Hong Kong and Thailand.⁠

As we all know, hospitality is a special industry. It’s demanding, exhausting, brilliant and addictive all at the same time. But it’s tougher than ever right now, so I have huge respect for everyone who keeps showing up and giving it everything they’ve got. We’ve got to keep this industry not just alive, but thriving for the next generation.⁠

Finally, to everyone who’s been part of this journey - you know who you are. Thank you.

Simon Rogan⁠