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Two of Birmingham’s most acclaimed chefs, Kiran Suvarna of Orelle and Ash Valenzuela‑Heeger of Riverine Rabbit, have been shortlisted for the Best Chef award at the 2025 British Restaurant Awards — a prestigious annual event that honours culinary excellence across the UK.

Kiran Suvarna – Executive Chef at Orelle

Since taking the helm at Orelle in autumn 2024, Kiran Suvarna has become a standout figure in Birmingham’s fine dining scene. Operating from the restaurant’s striking 24th-floor location, Suvarna creates refined, flavour-forward dishes inspired by two decades of international culinary experience.

His résumé includes time at London institutions like Le Pont de la Tour, Skylon, and German Gymnasium, as well as the two-Michelin-starred Pollen in Singapore. At Orelle, Suvarna champions a clean, modern approach to cooking, focusing on elegant plating and ingredient-led compositions that reflect his global perspective.

Ash Valenzuela‑Heeger – Head Chef and Founder of Riverine Rabbit

South African-born Ash Valenzuela‑Heeger launched Riverine Rabbit as a Cape Town pop-up before relocating it to Birmingham during the pandemic. Blending South African culinary heritage with British seasonal produce, her innovative menus feature dishes like spice-infused small plates, crab toast, and honey-cured beef.

Ash’s career spans acclaimed restaurants including The Test Kitchen in Cape Town, and UK powerhouses like The Ledbury and Carters of Moseley. In 2025, Riverine Rabbit earned a coveted Michelin Bib Gourmand and the Michelin Young Chef Award, cementing her status as one of the UK’s rising culinary stars.

Recognition for Birmingham’s Culinary Talent

The full shortlist for the British Restaurant Awards 2025 will be officially announced on September 10, with the winners revealed at a ceremony in London this autumn. The dual nomination is a strong sign of Birmingham’s growing influence on the UK fine dining map.