Daniel Calvert and Andreas Antona recognised in King’s Birthday Honours

Daniel Calvert and Andreas Antona are among the chefs and food leaders to have been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours list.

Names from restaurants, hotels, education, rural hospitality and food-system reform have been included.

The 2026 King’s Birthday Honours recognised people for achievements and service across the UK and internationally.

Who is on the list?

Among the hospitality names included were Andreas Antona, founder of the Bocuse d’Or UK Academy, Daniel Calvert, lately executive chef at Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi, Peter Scobie, head chef at Queen’s University Belfast, and Isabella Cameron, head of kitchen at Grogarry Lodge.

Anna Taylor, executive director of The Food Foundation, was also recognised for services to reforming the food system.

Andreas Antona awarded MBE

Andreas Antona has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the hospitality sector and to charity.

Andreas is founder of the Bocuse d’Or UK Academy and has been recognised his contribution to the hospitality sector and charity.

Andreas is one of the Midlands’ most respected restaurateurs and chefs, having founded Simpsons, which became one of Birmingham’s defining Michelin-starred restaurants.

Michelin-starred  Simpsons last month announced its closure after 32 years in business, due to economical pressures.

Andreas has also played a major role in supporting the development of British chefs through the Bocuse d’Or UK Academy, helping to raise the profile of the international competition and its role in chef development.

Daniel Calvert recognised for UK/Japan culinary relations

Daniel Calvert has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Overseas and International List.

Daniel, lately executive chef at Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi, was recognised for services to the culinary arts in Japan and to UK/Japan culinary relations.

The award reflects Daniel’s work representing British culinary talent abroad, as well as the growing importance of international chef exchange and restaurant diplomacy between the UK and Japan.

In December 2024, Daniel became the first English chef to win three Michelin stars outside of the UK, at Sézanne in Tokyo.

From Surrey originally, Daniel, still only in his 30s, has worked at star-studded kitchens in London, Paris, New York and Hong Kong, becoming the youngest chef to win a Michelin star in the latter.

He previously worked at the likes of The Ivy, Pied à Terre, Per Se, Epicure at Le Bristol and Belon, before moving to Tokyo in 2021.

• Read more: Marcus Wareing among recipients for New Year Honours

Peter Scobie awarded BEM

Peter Scobie, head chef at Queen’s University Belfast, has also been awarded a BEM.

The official list recognised Peter for services to higher education.

His inclusion highlights the important role chefs and kitchen teams play beyond restaurants and hotels, particularly within education, where food provision, training, welfare and large-scale hospitality operations are central to daily campus life.