Shortlist announced for Independent Hotel Show Awards 2025

The shortlist has been revealed for the 2025 edition of the Independent Hotel Show Awards, in partnership with Preferred Hotels & Resorts, celebrating trailblazing independent hotels, stunning hospitality design, and inspiring rising stars in the industry.

Firmly established as a highlight of the UK hotel industry calendar, the awards shine a spotlight on the creativity, leadership, and innovation that make the independent hotel sector so unique.

The judging day took place at The Beaumont Hotel in Mayfair, where an expert panel gathered to review nominations, debate the merits of each entry, and carefully select the standout finalists across three key categories: Independent Hotel of the Year, Hotel Design of the Year, and Hotel Rising Star, plus an industry Outstanding Contribution Award, nominated by the judges and revealed at the Independent Hotel Show on 6 October.

This year’s shortlist is:

Independent Hotel of the Year

· Another Place, The Lake

· Calcot & Spa

· Farlam Hall Hotel & Restaurant

· Foxhill Manor

· Gilpin Hotel

· Glenapp Castle

· Grantley Hall

· Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa

· Seaham Hall

· Wildhive Callow Hall

Hotel Design of the Year

· Montcalm Mayfair, designed by Louise East, Studio Est

· room2 Belfast, designed by Lamington Group/room2

· SeaSpace, designed by Matt Hulme, Dynargh Design/ Kay Elliott Architect

· Woodland Suite Experience at The Montenotte Hotel, designed by Róisín Lafferty and Henry J Lyons Architects

· voco The Clifton Folkestone, designed by Nicholas Hollinshead at NH Interiors

Hotel Rising Star

· Aaron Collier, Head of Accommodation, The Mogans Collection

· Adriana Blozyte, Sales Manager, Hart Shoreditch

· Alex Williams, Senior Marketing Executive, Royal Lancaster London

Glenn Wallace, Event Manager for the Independent Hotel Show comments: “We’re thrilled to unveil the shortlist for this year’s Independent Hotel Show Awards, in partnership with Preferred Hotels & Resorts. These awards are a true celebration of the people, properties and design concepts that continue to push boundaries in the independent hotel sector.

“From inspiring rising stars to outstanding hotels and standout design, the shortlist reflects the innovation, dedication and creativity that define our industry. We can’t wait to celebrate the winners this October.”

The judges for the 2025 edition of the Independent Hotel Show Awards were:

· Petra Clayton, CEO, CUSTARD

· Brenda Collin, Executive Vice President of Europe, Preferred Hotels & Resorts

· Felicity Cousins, Editor, Sustainable Hotel News

· Sarah Duncan, ESG Consultant, author of The Sustainable Business Book and The Ethical Business Book

· Jade Evans, Editor, The Hotel Magazine

· Peter Hancock, Conference & Awards Host

· Sophie Harper, Editor, Hotel Designs

· Eloise Hanson, Editor, Boutique Hotel News

· Kalindi Juneja, CEO, PoB Hotels

· Nick Maddox, Head of Risk, James Hallam Hospitality and Leisure

· Zoe Monk, Managing Editor, Boutique Hotelier

· Simon Numphud, Managing Director, AA Media

· Jane Pendlebury, CEO, HOSPA

· Stuart Procter, CEO, The Beaumont Mayfair

· Robert Richardson, CEO, Institute of Hospitality

Kalindi Juneja, CEO, PoB Hotels, comments: “It’s wonderful to see the number and calibre of entries grow year on year. With so many worthy finalists in the mix, the judges had no easy task picking the finalists but now it's down to the all-important public vote. We look forward to celebrating the winners at what promises to be another inspiring and unmissable Independent Hotel Show this October.”

Simon Numphud, Managing Director, AA Media, adds: “Nominations for this year’s awards were highly impressive. Demonstrating the amazing quality, individuality and innovation we have across the independent hotel sector.”

The shortlists for Independent Hotel of the Year and Hotel Design of the Year will now be opened to public industry vote. This, combined with votes from the judging panel, will ultimately determine the winners.

The Independent Hotel Show takes place on 6-7 October at Olympia in London.

To find out more about everything happening as part of this year’s event visit: independenthotelshow.co.uk