NCASS Members Celebrated at Fifth Annual Be Inclusive Hospitality Spotlight Awards 2026

Several NCASS members have been recognised at the fifth annual Be Inclusive Hospitality (BIH) Spotlight Awards 2026, celebrating the Black and ethnic minority talent shaping the future of UK hospitality.

Among this year’s winners were Chuku’s, Mouna’s Kitchen and Flake Bake, highlighting the creativity, innovation and diversity driving the industry forward.

Chuku’s, the world’s first Nigerian tapas restaurant, was named People’s Choice Restaurant of the Year. Founded by Tottenham-based sibling duo Emeka and Ifeyinwa Frederick, the restaurant has gained recognition for its innovative dining concept, bringing Nigerian cuisine to the table through a tapas-style experience that celebrates authentic flavours and encourages guests to share and explore Nigerian food in a new way.

In the Cuisine Categories, Mouna’s Kitchen was recognised in the Middle Eastern Food category, celebrating its contribution to showcasing Middle Eastern cuisine within the UK hospitality sector.

Meanwhile, Flake Bake took home Brand of the Year, an award sponsored by Electrolux Professional, recognising the brand’s place within a hospitality landscape shaped by entrepreneurial ambition, creativity and diverse talent.

The awards provide a platform to recognise individuals and businesses making a meaningful contribution to the UK hospitality industry, shining a spotlight on the achievements of Black and ethnic minority professionals and entrepreneurs.

Championing inclusion across hospitality

The Spotlight Awards are organised by Be Inclusive Hospitality, a not-for-profit social enterprise dedicated to accelerating inclusion and belonging across the hospitality industry, with a particular focus on race and ethnicity.

Founded by Lorraine Copes in 2020, the organisation was established to address the underrepresentation of ethnic minority talent in leadership positions and across the hospitality supply chain. Drawing on Copes’ more than 20 years of industry experience, BIH works to create lasting change through research, funded initiatives and partnerships with organisations committed to building a more inclusive sector.

Today, Be Inclusive Hospitality supports a community of more than 1,000 hospitality professionals across the UK, providing opportunities to connect, develop and progress within the industry.

Visit Be Inclusive Hospitality for more information about its work and initiatives.