TOP taxi drivers, star bartenders and promising young chefs were celebrated at York’s first hospitality awards.

The event, which was organised by Make It York and took place at the Everyman Cinema last night (Wednesday, September 26), aims to celebrate talented individuals working in the city and encourage more people to pursue careers in hospitality.

The winner of the hospitality champion prize, sponsored by Sweet P Catering, was Tarik Abdeladim, who has been running Los Moros street kitchen in Shambles Food Court since 2015. The timing could not be better as Tarik is just about to launch the business as a restaurant in Grape Lane on October 11.

Other winners include Matthew Cressey, manager at Studford Luxury Lodges, who took home the Warm Welcome Award, Harvey Maher, chef de partie at Melton’s Restaurant, who won the Most Promising Chef prize, and Anna Bialochleb, from at The Whippet Inn, who was named Serving Superstar.

The Top Taxi Driver category went to Wendy Loveday from Fleetways, while Amy Cadywold from Walmgate Ale House and Chopping Block took home the Unsung Hero award. People development manager at The Principal York, Alexandra Kew, was handed the Career Catapult prize.

The Star Behind the Bar award went to Kuba Bartosiewicz from The White Swan in Ampleforth and the Sparkle award was won by Jo Skelton, housekeeper at Studford Luxury Lodges. The Lifetime Achievement prize was won by Christine Bedford, accounts and HR manager at the Dean Court Hotel.

Michelin-starred chef Tommy Banks, who won a Visit York award for Culinary Excellence in 2010 and recently opened his newest venture Roots York in Marygate, congratulated the winners at the ceremony.

He said: “Hospitality is a wonderful industry that has been very kind to me. After winning a culinary excellence award eight years ago, I’m now part of the thriving restaurant scene in York.

“I’m delighted to be part of this new awards ceremony recognising all of the great people in our sector. I hope being a winner (and a finalist) will inspire our next generation of talent and make sure we keep on attracting more of it. I can’t imagine a better place than York and Yorkshire to live and run my business.”

Paul Whiting, head of Visit York, said: “I’d like to congratulate all our deserving winners. Our aim is to make York the number one destination to start and grow your hospitality career. There are some brilliant opportunities out there if you are keen to progress.

“The sky really is the limit and Tommy is such a fabulous example of what can be achieved.”

Make It York also launched the JobsinYork.com website this year for people hoping to find careers in hospitality in the city.

Paul added: “We are committed to putting York in the spotlight as the best place in the UK to train, work and progress your hospitality career.”