The inaugural Lewisham Awards were established in 2002 to celebrate excellence within Auckland’s hospitality community and honour hospitality pioneer Richard Lewisham. The Awards were instigated by wine industry leader Clive Weston, who recognised the opportunity to create a peer-voted platform celebrating the people and establishments shaping Auckland hospitality. Over time, the Awards evolved into one of the city’s most respected hospitality events.

Throughout the 2000s, The Lewisham Awards reflected the rapid growth and increasing sophistication of Auckland’s restaurant and bar scene. Fine dining establishments, waterfront venues, cocktail bars and neighbourhood restaurants increasingly gained national and international recognition, helping position Auckland as one of the Southern Hemisphere’s emerging food destinations.

Simon Wright of The French Café became the inaugural recipient of the Outstanding Chef award in 2003. His recognition reflected the growing influence of fine dining within Auckland’s emerging culinary scene and helped establish the prestige of the category in the years that followed.

Head of the School of Hotel and Restaurant Studies at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), Ted Bryant became the inaugural recipient of the Lewisham Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007. Bryant was recognised for his longstanding contribution to hospitality education and industry development, helping shape generations of hospitality professionals entering the Auckland dining sector.

Peter Washer received the Lewisham Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his stewardship of Auckland institution The White Lady during its 61st year of operation. By this stage, The White Lady had become deeply woven into Auckland culture, serving generations of Aucklanders and hospitality workers late into the night.

Throughout the 2010s, Auckland’s restaurant, wine and cocktail culture entered a new era of sophistication. The Lewisham Awards increasingly spotlighted chefs, bartenders, sommeliers and neighbourhood establishments helping shape Auckland into an internationally recognised dining destination.

Judith Tabron of Soul Bar & Bistro became the inaugural recipient of the Outstanding Hospitality Personality award in 2012. Widely regarded as one of Auckland hospitality’s defining personalities, Tabron played a significant role in shaping the city’s waterfront dining culture.

Eurowine personality Jose Hernandez received the Lewisham Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. Known affectionately as “The King of Spain”, Hernandez became one of Auckland hospitality’s most recognisable and beloved figures through his passion for wine, hospitality and bringing people together

By 2013, The Lewisham Awards were increasingly being referred to in media as the “Oscars of Auckland hospitality”, reflecting both the prestige of the Awards and the growing public profile of Auckland’s dining culture.

The 2014 Awards recorded more than 7,300 peer votes from across Auckland’s hospitality community, demonstrating the scale and engagement of the industry-led voting process.

That same year, Sid Sahrawat won Outstanding Chef for Sidart, cementing his position as one of Auckland’s defining culinary figures of the decade.

Michael Meredith received Outstanding Chef recognition in 2015 for Meredith’s, one of Auckland’s most acclaimed fine dining establishments. Meredith became widely respected for his innovative degustation dining and mentorship of emerging chefs within the industry.

Nicola Richards of Monsoon Poon received both Outstanding Hospitality Personality and Outstanding Restaurateur at the 2015 Lewisham Awards. The recognition reflected Monsoon Poon’s growing influence within Auckland dining culture and Richards’ reputation as one of the city’s most respected hospitality leaders.  

Ben Bayly received Outstanding Chef recognition in 2016 for his work at The Grove, one of Auckland’s defining fine dining restaurants of the era. Widely recognised for championing refined New Zealand cuisine, Bayly helped shape Auckland’s growing reputation as a sophisticated international dining destination. 

The 16th annual Lewisham Awards took place at Eden Park with a Pacific Nights theme, attracting more than 700 hospitality guests. The sell-out event reflected the growing stature and energy of the Awards within Auckland hospitality. 

That year, Che Barrington received Outstanding Chef recognition for his work across The Blue Breeze Inn, GoGo Daddy and Chop Chop.

Sid Sahrawat received Outstanding Chef recognition in 2019 for his work across Sidart, Cassia and Sid at The French Café. His recognition reflected Auckland’s growing international culinary standing and the increasing global reputation of New Zealand chefs.

For the first time in the Awards’ history, The Lewisham Awards were not held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The cancellation reflected the immense challenges facing Auckland’s hospitality industry during lockdowns and restrictions, with restaurants, bars and cafés across the city enduring one of the most difficult periods in modern hospitality history.

Leslie Hottiaux of Aperó Food & Wine received Outstanding Chef recognition in 2021, celebrated for his refined yet approachable cooking style and contribution to Auckland’s neighbourhood dining scene. Aperó had become one of the city’s most respected restaurants, known for its intimate atmosphere, thoughtful wine programme and consistently exceptional food.

Clive Weston received the Lewisham Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to Auckland hospitality and New Zealand wine. Beyond his leadership at Negociants New Zealand, Weston was also the original instigator of The Lewisham Awards, helping establish the peer-voted platform that continues to celebrate Auckland hospitality today. 

The Lewisham Awards celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2022, marking two decades of recognising excellence, mentorship and innovation across Auckland hospitality. By this stage, the Awards had become firmly established as Auckland hospitality’s “night of nights”.

In 2022, the Lewisham Awards expanded to recognise Outstanding Local Establishments across Auckland’s neighbourhoods, acknowledging the vital role local hospitality venues play within their communities.

The inaugural regional winners included The Engine Room for North Auckland, Little Jimmy for South Auckland, Ampersand Eatery for East Auckland, Hallertau Brewery for West Auckland and Apéro for Central. The introduction of the categories reflected the growing diversity of Auckland hospitality and celebrated the neighbourhood restaurants, bars and eateries helping shape the identity and culture of communities across the region.

Sid Sahrawat received Outstanding Chef recognition in 2022 for Sid at The French Café, reinforcing his status as one of the most influential and celebrated chefs in Lewisham Awards history. His continued recognition reflected Auckland’s growing international culinary reputation and the enduring impact of his contribution to the city’s dining scene.

Dariush Lolaiy of Cazador received Outstanding Chef recognition in 2023, celebrating his long-standing contribution to Auckland dining and his distinctive approach to wild food and game cuisine

Under the leadership of Ben Bayly, Ahi Restaurant received Lewisham Awards for both Innovation and Sustainability in 2023. The recognition reflected a growing industry focus on local ingredients, producer relationships, sustainability and contemporary New Zealand food storytelling. 

Valerie Littlejohn received the Lewisham Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024 at the age of 91. Her career spanned more than six decades, from the pioneering Orsini’s Restaurant through to Sails Restaurant, one of Auckland’s most enduring hospitality institutions.  

Internationally recognised chef Peter Gordon received a special Hospitality Hero distinction in 2024 in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to New Zealand cuisine and hospitality. Widely regarded as one of the pioneers of fusion cuisine, Gordon helped introduce New Zealand ingredients and culinary creativity to an international audience through acclaimed restaurants in both New Zealand and London.

Through Homeland NZ, Gordon continued to champion community connection, local producers and mentorship within the hospitality industry. His recognition reflected not only his influence as a chef, but also his longstanding commitment to collaboration, generosity and the evolution of New Zealand’s food culture.

Kia Kanuta of Ada Restaurant received Outstanding Chef recognition in 2024 for incorporating traditional Māori cooking methods into contemporary dining. The award reflected the continued evolution and cultural depth of Auckland hospitality.

Leslie Hottiaux of Aperó Food & Wine received Outstanding Chef recognition in 2025, further cementing Aperó’s reputation as one of Auckland’s most respected dining destinations.

Following nearly two decades leading Monsoon Poon, Nicola Richards received the Hospitality Hero Award in 2025. The recognition acknowledged her longstanding contribution to Auckland hospitality, leadership within the industry and the lasting legacy of one of the city’s most beloved restaurants.  

Gilt Brasserie emerged as one of the biggest winners in Lewisham Awards history, with Glen File named Outstanding Chef, Justin Ydia recognised as Outstanding Bartender, and the restaurant also securing Outstanding Wine Experience. It marked the first time a venue had won this particular combination of awards in a single year.

Connie Clarkson, David Meagher and Chris Upton received Lifetime Achievement Awards in recognition of more than two decades of gifted voluntary service to Auckland hospitality and the Lewisham Awards. Their leadership and commitment helped guide and sustain the awards programme from its earliest years, while founding committee member Clive Weston was also recognised as he stepped aside after 24 years of service.

In its 40th year, Ponsonby institution Prego was named Outstanding Local Establishment Central, bringing its total to 18 Lewisham Awards across 14 winning years. The milestone cemented Prego's place as the most awarded venue in the history of the Lewisham Awards and reflected four decades of enduring popularity with Auckland diners.