"When I enthusiastically agreed to be a judge for the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards, I had absolutely no clue as to the daunting task that awaited me and my fellow judges. Daunting, not just because of the sheer volume of entries, but also because of the astonishing breadth, depth and diversity of the entries, and the explosive energy of talent, creativity, joy and power. I read, watched and listened, to entries that taught me something completely new, entries that re-oriented my outlook on life, entries that made me laugh until my tummy hurt, entries that had me in tears. I was moved, inspired, awed, challenged and changed over and over again. It reminded me, profoundly, of the rich cultural heritage of our country, and how so much of the iridescent tapestry of food and drink in Britain is thanks to the melting pot of nationalities, cultures, religions and backgrounds we all come from. If anything brings us together, around the table, breaking bread with each other, bringing down barriers, it’s the people who are telling the stories of how we grow, produce and share nourishment. It has been beyond a joy and a privilege to play a small part in this."

Tamlyn Currin 

2026 Judge

Senior writer and editor, jancisrobinson.com

Book Categories

FOOD BOOK
WINNER

All Consuming: Why We Eat the Way We Eat Now
by Ruby Tandoh

Serpent’s Tail, Profile

DEBUT FOOD BOOK
WINNER

Foreign Fruit: A Personal History of the Orange
by Katie Goh

Canongate

COOKERY BOOK
WINNER

Indian Kitchens
by Roopa Gulati

Bloomsbury

DEBUT COOKERY BOOK
WINNER

The Sudanese Kitchen
by Omer Al Tijani

Almas Art Foundation

DRINK BOOK
WINNER

The Curious Bartender’s Agave Safari
by Tristan Stephenson

Ryland Peters & Small

DEBUT DRINK BOOK
WINNER

Tequila: A Tasting Course
by Millie Milliken

DK

Writer Categories

FOOD WRITER
WINNER

Yemisí Aríbisálà for work in Vittles and Scribehound Food

COOKERY WRITER
WINNER

Nick Bramham for work in Vittles

Writer Categories

DRINK WRITER
WINNER

Joel Harrison for work in Club Oenologique

RESTAURANT WRITER
WINNER

Joanna Taylor for work in Foodism and The Telegraph

Photography and Broadcast Categories

PROGRAMME
WINNER

Hebridean Baker: Nordic Islands

Presenter: Coinneach Macleod

Series Producer: Julie McCrone

Episode Director: Faye Maclean

Caledonia TV

AUDIO
WINNER

The Food Chain: A Place at the Table: Fostering and Adoption

Presenter & Producer: Ruth Alexander

Producer: Beatrice Pickup

Editor: Sara Wadeson

BBC World Service

PHOTOGRAPHER
WINNER

Presented in partnership with the World Food Photography Awards (WFPA), sponsored by Tenderstem®, judged by Caroline Kenyon, founder of the WFPA; Eliza Williams, editor of Creative Review; and Ange Loftus, Head of Brand and Creative Production at Fortnum & Mason

Kim Lightbody 

FORTNUM'S SPECIAL AWARD

Sheila Dillon – WAITING for Words

FORTNUM'S IMPACT AWARD

Judged by Mallika Basu, chef and author; Maria Bradford, writer and board adviser in food, drink and hospitality and Tom Athron, CEO of Fortnum & Mason, the Fortnum’s Impact Award celebrates individuals or organisations making a transformative and positive contribution to the world of food and drink in the UK.

This year’s Fortnum’s Impact Award goes to Food Behind Bars, for its extraordinary work bringing meaningful change to prisons across England and Wales. Through food education and wellbeing initiatives, the charity is improving lives and helping to create a more humane, healthier and rehabilitative prison system.

CONTENT CREATOR OF THE YEAR
WINNER

Ash Baber

@ash_baber

RISING STAR CONTENT CREATOR OF THE YEAR
WINNER

Luke Flunder

@luke_flunders_wine_world