Photo: Industry leaders, Michelin-starred chefs, restaurateurs and dignitaries gather at Royal Lancaster London during the inaugural global Indian Restaurant Congress & Awards, celebrating the international success of Indian cuisine and hospitality.
Indian Restaurant Congress Goes Global
Franchise India hosted the inaugural global Indian Restaurant Congress & Awards in London, uniting leading chefs, restaurateurs and industry experts while celebrating excellence, innovation and the growing international influence of Indian cuisine.
Following 15 years of industry-defining success in India, Franchise India successfully hosted the global inaugural edition of the Indian Restaurant Congress & Awards on 28th May at the prestigious Royal Lancaster London, writes George Shaw one of the Awards judges.
The landmark event brought together an elite, invite-only gathering of London’s top 250 restaurateurs, Michelin-starred chefs, pioneering culinary entrepreneurs, and key hospitality stakeholders to deliberate on the future of Indian cuisine on the world stage. It was truly an evening to remember—serving as a high-octane celebration of cultural heritage and industry synergy, packed with exceptional food, spectacular live entertainment, and unmatched networking opportunities for the global hospitality community.
Sachin Marya, Managing Director, Franchise India, reflected on the journey and international expansion of the platform, “Franchise India started the Restaurant Congress over 15 years ago with a simple vision — to help Indian restaurants evolve through networking, knowledge sharing and celebrating excellence within the industry. Over the years, the platform has become a strong voice for the restaurant and hospitality ecosystem in India.”
He also pointed out that the group is extremely proud to bring the Indian Restaurant Congress & Awards to London and take this vision to a global stage. “London represents one of the most vibrant and influential markets for Indian cuisine, and celebrating the contribution of Indian restaurants here is both meaningful and inspiring. What we witnessed at Royal Lancaster was not just an event, but a celebration of the growing global influence of Indian hospitality, entrepreneurship and culinary excellence.”
The congress also marked major industry milestones, headlined by the exclusive unveiling of Entrepreneur’s Restaurateur Global Issue. This premium print and digital magazine highlights inspiring industry leaders, scaling strategies, and global hospitality stories. Alongside the magazine, the event saw the official launch of RestaurantIndia.uk — a dedicated B2B platform focused on the Indian restaurant industry in the UK.
Distinguished Dignitaries and VIP Guests
The global debut was graced by prominent community leaders, policymakers, and influential state figures who underscored the deep cultural and economic ties between India and the UK’s hospitality sectors:
• Lord Rami Ranger FRSA — Businessman, Philanthropist, Change Activist, and Community Leader
• Lord Kulveer Ranger — The Lord Ranger of Northwood
• Cllr Aarien Areti — Councillor, Holland Ward, and Deputy Mayor 2025-2026, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
“The global edition of the Indian Restaurant Congress & Awards marked an important milestone for Restaurant India as we expanded the platform internationally and brought together leading voices from the restaurant and hospitality ecosystem across markets. This edition was particularly special with the launch of Entrepreneur’s Restaurateur Global Issue, highlighting inspiring industry leaders and global hospitality stories, along with the unveiling of RestaurantIndia.uk — a dedicated B2B platform focused on the Indian restaurant industry in the UK. The response from restaurateurs, chefs, entrepreneurs, partners and industry stakeholders has been truly overwhelming, reaffirming the growing global influence and business potential of Indian cuisine and hospitality,” added Preetima Bhardwaj, CEO, Restaurant India & Entrepreneur Media APAC, highlighting the international collaboration.
The conference sessions featured thought-provoking discussions around scaling culinary brands globally, adapting to changing consumer palates, technological integration, and investment trends in international hospitality. The elite roster of industry experts who shared their insights included:
• Atul Kochhar — 2-Time Michelin-Starred Chef & Restaurateur
• Vivek Singh — Entrepreneur, CEO, and Executive Chef, Cinnamon Collection
• Cyrus Rustom Todiwala OBE, DL — Restaurateur & Chef, Cafe Spice Namaste
• Anjan Chatterjee — Founder, Speciality Group of Restaurants
• Sameer Taneja — Executive Chef, Benares
• Sanjay Anand MBE — Chairman and Founder, Madhu’s
• Chef Peter Joseph — Chef Patron and Head Chef, Kahani London
• Romy Gill MBE — Chef, Restaurateur & Author
• Dipna Anand — British-Indian Chef, Author, and Restaurateur, Brilliant Gastro (Southall)
• Surjan Singh Jolly — Culinary Director & CEO, Jolly Good Hospitality Limited UK
• Kate Alexander — Head of Food & Commercial Channels, Nestlé Professional UK & Ireland
• Samson Sohail — Head of Global Sales, Cobra Beer Molson Coors
Celebrating Excellence: The 2026 Global Indian Restaurant Award Winners
Ensuring the highest standards of integrity and critical assessment, the inaugural award winners were evaluated by an esteemed panel of media veterans, culinary critics, and seasoned hospitality specialists:
• George Shaw — Former BBC Journalist, Editor of the Good Curry Guide, and Editor-in-Chief of Taste London
• Andy Hayler — Renowned Food Critic & Author
• Rashmi Uday Singh — Celebrated TV Host & Author
• Rajesh Suri — Acclaimed Restaurateur, F&B Professional, and Former CEO & Director of the Tamarind Collection Group
• Sachin Marya — Editorial Director, Restaurant India & Entrepreneur APAC
The evening culminated in a glittering ceremony presenting the highly anticipated Global Indian Restaurant Awards, honoring the definitive trailblazers setting new international benchmarks for culinary mastery and business brilliance:
• Global Indian Chef of the Year: Sanjeev Kapoor
• Culinary Excellence Award: Atul Kochhar
• Global Ambassador of Indian Cuisine: Shipra Khanna
• Culinary Heritage Award: Café Spice Namasté
• Global Indian Restaurant of the Year: The Cinnamon Club / Cinnamon Collection
• Best Fine Dining Indian Restaurant: Kahani
• Best Chef-Led Restaurant: Benares Restaurant & Bar
• Best Indian Restaurant Brand: Jamavar
• Best Indian Restaurant – United Kingdom: Colonel Saab
• Critics’ Choice Indian Restaurant: Kutir
• Restaurant Group of the Year: Tresind
• Best Indian Neighbourhood Restaurant: Dastaan
• Caterer of the Year – United Kingdom: Madhu’s Limited
• Contemporary Casual Dining Experience: Charcoals
• Community Dining Experience of the Year: Koyal Restaurant
The roaring success of this inaugural London edition cements the Indian Restaurant Congress & Awards as the definitive global platform for fostering trade, dialogue, and elite recognition within the cross-border hospitality ecosystem.
www.restaurantindia.in/global/
www.restaurantindia.in/global/award-winners.php
