‘Astounded’ Ayesha Kalaji named Chef of the Year at Top 50 Gastropubs
Ayesha Kalaji has been crowned Chef of the Year at the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs 2026 awards.
It marks a significant milestone both for her own career and for her Glastonbury restaurant, Queen of Cups.
The ceremony, held at Plaisterers’ Hall in London, brought together leading figures from across the UK hospitality industry to celebrate the very best food-led pubs in the country.
Alongside Ayesha’s individual accolade, Queen of Cups also secured a place in the Top 50 for the first time, entering the list at number 42.
Placed between London pub The Knave of Clubs and Adam Handling MBE’s The Tartan Fox, Queen of Cups’ debut ranking highlighted the growing recognition of its distinctive Middle Eastern-influenced cooking and confident, identity-driven approach.
Recognition among the industry’s elite
Reacting to the award on the night, Ayesha said she was both surprised and deeply grateful to be recognised among such a strong field of peers.
She said: “I'm absolutely astounded, thrilled and still a bit shellshocked to have won. In a room full of such incredible people and amazing talent it is truly an honour.
“It wouldn't be possible without the team who support me. I'm just so grateful.”
Ayesha became only the second woman to win the Chef of the Year title since the Top 50 Gastropubs launched in 2009, following Sally Abé’s win in 2020.
Her success was widely seen as recognition not only of her technical ability, but also of the clarity of vision behind Queen of Cups and the consistency of its cooking.
A restaurant rooted in place and identity
Queen of Cups is housed within a 17th-century coaching inn in Glastonbury, transformed into a modern Middle Eastern restaurant.
The name is taken from Tarot card reading, an explicit nod to the town’s mystical heritage.
Drawing on her Jordanian heritage alongside her upbringing in North Wales, Ayesha has developed a distinctive style of cooking that blends bold Middle Eastern flavours with locally sourced British produce.
Since opening in 2021, Queen of Cups has built a strong reputation for confident, expressive dishes that feel both personal and rooted in their surroundings.
The restaurant currently holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand, which it has retained for two consecutive years - the first and only venue in the area to receive the distinction.
A sustained run of accolades
The Chef of the Year award follows a notable run of industry recognition for Ayesha. She received the BIH Spotlight Award for Middle Eastern Food in 2022, was named Trencherman’s Best Newcomer in 2024, and went on to win Best Trencherman’s Chef in 2025.
She was also shortlisted for Best Newcomer at the Top 50 Gastropubs in 2023, before being named one of Code’s Top 100 Most Influential Women of the Year in 2024.
In addition to her restaurant work, Ayesha has appeared on MasterChef: The Professionals and Great British Menu, helping to further raise her profile while keeping Queen of Cups firmly chef-led and food-focused.
Her Chef of the Year win at the Top 50 Gastropubs 2026 now firmly cements her position as one of the most influential and exciting chefs working within the UK’s food-led pub sector.
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‘Astounded’ Ayesha Kalaji named Chef of the Year at Top 50 Gastropubs
