Gordon Ramsay Wins Visionary Award at British Luxury Awards

Gordon Ramsay OBE has won the Visionary award at Walpole’s British Luxury Awards 2026, recognised for building a global hospitality business from British foundations and for his multi-million-pound investment in restaurants at 22 Bishopsgate in the City of London.

The award, in association with Laurent-Perrier, celebrates an individual whose skill, expertise and strategic ambition have transformed their industry. Ramsay’s venues on the 60th floor of 22 Bishopsgate include Lucky Cat and Restaurant Gordon Ramsay High, and Walpole said the investment had shown real confidence in London, adding destinations that help the capital compete for visitors who have a world of choices, with the group’s recent results highlighting strong trading at the site. Gordon Ramsay Restaurants has continued to invest in the capital, with plans also announced this year for a riverside restaurant at Sea Containers London. The award was presented by Lord Dundas.

Now in their 25th year, the awards were held at The Dorchester on Monday 9 November, bringing together 350 creatives, executives and influencers from across the luxury industry. The black-tie evening, hosted by Olivier Award-winning actor and author Celia Imrie CBE, began with a Laurent-Perrier champagne reception, followed by a seated dinner with wine from the Sussex estate Artelium and an afterparty hosted by The Dalmore.

Guests included Rankin, Christopher Chung, Paloma Faith, Tom Dixon, Candice Brathwaite, Jade Parfitt, Charity Wakefield, Kenya Hunt and Laura Bailey. Walpole, the sector body for British luxury, used the evening to highlight businesses investing in manufacturing, specialist skills and experiences that draw international visitors.

“For 25 years, these awards have recognised the very best of British luxury, and this year’s winners make the strongest case yet for Britain’s ability to compete. They are expanding manufacturing, investing in skills that take years to master and creating experiences people will cross the world for. British luxury generates £81 billion in turnover, £56 billion in exports and supports more than 450,000 jobs in the UK. With a more competitive business environment, these brands can turn global demand for British quality into even greater investment, exports and skilled jobs across the UK.”

Helen Brocklebank, Chief Executive, Walpole

Walpole says investment in hospitality is strengthening Britain’s appeal to high-value international visitors, who spend 14 times as much as the average visitor, and its research with Bain & Company found that they contribute £8 to the wider economy for every £1 spent on accommodation, with their custom supporting shops, restaurants and cultural institutions as well as the businesses that supply them.

British Luxury Brand of the Year: John Smedley

The evening’s top award, British Luxury Brand of the Year, is voted for by Walpole members and went to John Smedley. The knitwear maker has manufactured at Lea Mills in Derbyshire since 1784 and has now invested £4 million in its factory, supporting its own collections while opening production to other luxury houses and emerging British designers, with Lanvin, DAKS, Maximilian Raynor and Cecile Tulkens among those manufacturing alongside it. The award was presented by Kenya Hunt, Editor-in-Chief of ELLE UK.

Best Luxury Experience of the Year: Boodles

Boodles won Best Luxury Experience of the Year, in association with Ascend Media, for The London Journey, which brought 15 couples from the US and Canada to London for a programme built around British culture and craftsmanship. It included a private dinner at the Tower of London to launch the family jeweller’s new High Jewellery collection, inspired by Historic Royal Palaces, a Royal Ballet rehearsal at the Royal Opera House and behind-the-scenes access to Boodles’ diamond-cutting facility. The award was presented by Rankin.

Sustainable Luxury Brand of the Year: Cadogan

Cadogan was named Sustainable Luxury Brand of the Year for its long-term stewardship of Chelsea. Through its Chelsea 2030 strategy, the estate has committed to reaching net zero by 2030, retrofitting historic buildings and investing in the environmental and social health of the neighbourhood. E.L.V. Denim was highly commended, and the award was presented by Roksanda Ilinčić.

Creative Collaboration of the Year: Vispring x Tom Dixon

Creative Collaboration of the Year went to the partnership between Plymouth-based bedmaker Vispring and designer Tom Dixon. Unveiled at Milan Design Week 2026, the collection of headboards and the Fat Bed pairs Dixon’s sculptural design language with Vispring’s hand-tied pocket springs, made by craftspeople in Plymouth. The award was presented by Charity Wakefield.

Leadership in British Luxury: Mulberry

Mulberry received the Leadership in British Luxury award. Its Back to the Mulberry Spirit strategy has put British heritage and craftsmanship at the centre of the business, with Christopher Kane, its new Creative Director, debuting his first collection for the house this year. Mulberry reported an 18% increase in first-half sales, and its two Somerset factories and leathercraft apprenticeship link that success to skilled jobs in rural Britain. The award was presented by Jade Parfitt.

Made in the UK: Private White V.C.

Private White V.C. took the Made in the UK award for bringing Greater Manchester manufacturing to an international audience. Every garment is made in its own factory in Salford, supporting British mills and specialist suppliers, and the brand is named after the founder’s great-grandfather, Private Jack White V.C. The award was presented by Christopher Chung.

WOLF Award for Future Legacy: Neatsmith

Neatsmith received the WOLF Award for Future Legacy for bringing specialist furniture finishing in house at its London factory and training its employees both to do the work and to teach it. The award was presented by Candice Brathwaite.

Great Creative Britons: Nicola Benedetti CBE and Francesca Hayward

This year’s two Great Creative Briton awards went to Grammy Award-winning violinist Nicola Benedetti CBE, the first Scot and first woman to lead the Edinburgh International Festival, whose Benedetti Foundation has brought music education to tens of thousands of young people, and to Francesca Hayward, Principal of The Royal Ballet, who has brought ballet to new audiences on stage and screen. They were presented by Paloma Faith and Laura Bailey respectively.

Brands of Tomorrow

The 12 businesses that completed Walpole’s Brands of Tomorrow 2026 mentoring programme for emerging luxury brands, run in association with Mishcon de Reya, were also recognised on the night by Celia Imrie: Artelium, Binibamba, clothsurgeon, Elsewhere Coffee, HERD, Hyde & Hare, Kindred of Ireland, Kingdom Scotland, OTZI, RESTARIES, Sister by Studio Ashby and Uniform Standard. Earlier alumni of the programme include Bremont, Emilia Wickstead, Nyetimber and Orlebar Brown.

The awards were supported by The Dorchester and by partners including WOLF, Laurent-Perrier, Ascend Media, Mishcon de Reya, The Dalmore and Etihad, with Hearst as media partner for 2026.

Walpole, which represents more than 250 members, is calling for government policies that further unlock the ability of British luxury businesses to compete globally, arguing that a more competitive business environment would turn international demand for British brands into more investment, exports and skilled jobs across the UK.