Chef Ayesha Kalaji wins Chef of the Year at the 2026 BIH Spotlight Awards
Ayesha Kalaji, Chef Patron of Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded Glastonbury restaurant Queen of Cups, has been named Chef of the Year at the 2026 Be Inclusive Hospitality (BIH) Spotlight Awards, held at Quaglino’s in London this Monday 12th October.
Now in their fifth year, the BIH Spotlight Awards celebrate the achievements of ethnic minority individuals making a meaningful contribution to hospitality in the UK, recognising the breadth of talent, creativity and experience shaping the industry today. This year’s ceremony welcomed around 300 industry professionals, with winners announced across 16 categories.
Kalaji’s win marks a significant moment in an already eventful evening for the chef. Earlier on Monday, she also attended the AYALA SquareMeal Female Chef of the Year Award 2026, having been named a finalist alongside an outstanding line-up of leading female chefs from across the UK.
The double recognition highlights Kalaji’s growing profile within the British food and hospitality scene and the increasing appreciation for her individual interpretation of Middle Eastern cooking.
This news also follows Ayesha’s win of Chef of the Year at the prestigious Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs ceremony earlier this year, along with a string of impressive awards won since opening Queen of Cups in 2021, including: the BIH Spotlight Award 2022 for Middle Eastern Food, Trencherman’s Best Newcomer 2024, a placing in CODE’s Top 100 Most Influential Women of the Year 2024, and Best Trencherman’s Chef 2025.
Since opening Queen of Cups in May 2021, Kalaji has established the restaurant as a distinctive destination in Glastonbury, championing local farmers and producers while bringing the food traditions of her Jordanian heritage to the fore. Her approach celebrates the connection between place, produce, culture and personal identity.
“Winning Chef of the Year is an absolute honour! (and frankly a bit of a shock with the incredible nominees I was alongside) I hold Be Inclusive Hospitality in such high regard, and I am always inspired by the work they do promoting equality and equity within our industry. Being recognised for the food I make and the work I do is a testament to staying true to myself and unwavering in my identity. I am so proud that I can tell people about Jordanian food using local produce from my restaurant in Somerset, and for it to be recognised. The hard work, the love, the passion, it is all worth it.” – Chef Ayesha Kalaji
