BREAKING NEWS: THE WINNERS IN THE OXINABOX FOOD AWARDS 2026! Nearly 40,000 votes later, how the best in the industry celebrated in style

Oxfordshire’s hospitality industry celebrated in style last night as 200 finalists, sponsors and VIPs packed out The North Wall last night at THE OXINABOX FOOD AWARDS 2026 where the winners of all 10 categories were announced after nearly 40,000 votes were cast by the public. HERE ARE THE FINALISTS

What a night we had in store; tears, emotions and jubilance all panning out, with some big surprises, lots of new names and some much loved favourites making the final cut.

Over 200 hospitality businesses in Oxfordshire were nominated, the public voted on their favourites, and over 40 finalists were then invited to THE OXINABOX FOOD AWARDS 2026.

The legendary Gennaro Contaldo was also in attendance to hand out the awards, alongside our incredible sponsors, so it really was a night to remember, with an incredible after party at OXTWO where everyone let their hair down and danced late into the night.

SO THE WINNERS OF THE OXINABOX FOOD AWARDS 2026 ARE:

Best Newcomer – Corn Room, Witney

Best Cafe – Waste2Taste, Cowley

Best Veggie/Vegan – Oxford Blue – East Oxford

Best Casual Dining – Dishoom Permit Room, Oxford

Best International – Django’s Smokehouse – Didcot

Best Gastropub – White Hart, Fyfield

Oxford Guild of Chefs Young Chef Of The Year – Will Barker

Best Pub/Bar – The Plough, West Hanney

Best Restaurant – Corn Room, Witney

Best Chef – James Erasmus – Feathered Nest

Oxfordshire Hospitality Woman Of The Year Award – Tess Taylor, Tap Social

Lifetime Achievement Award – Mike North, Nut Tree

The after party at OXTWO in Summertown carried on late into the night with cocktails, drinks nibbles, and a fantastic DJ who kept the dance floor pounding.

Thank you to our sponsors Wise Investment, Jolly Foods, The Oxford Collection, Oxford Fine Dining, Soma Collab, Hundred Hills, Tap Social and Grape Minds, without whom this would never have happened!