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Joshua Oliver Ndirmbita MIH, restaurant manager at Estelle Manor, Oxfordshire, has been crowned the Institute of Hospitality’s Restaurant Manager of the Year 2026 following an intense day of competition at Hotel Café Royal in London on Monday 2 February. Alessandro Passaglia AIH, restaurant manager at Aviator, Hampshire, was named runner up.

Joshua, who finished runner up in the competition in 2025, was announced as the winner by Institute of Hospitality chief executive Robert Richardson FIH MI during the live winner’s reception, following a demanding day of assessed challenges for the 16 finalists

Designed to reflect the realities of modern restaurant management, finalists were assessed on leadership and people management, future thinking for hospitality, guest engagement and commercial decision making. The day also included an educational masterclass delivered by Laurent-Perrier Champagne, alongside financial and staffing based challenges.

Following the daytime assessments, four finalists progressed to the live final, where they completed two final tasks in front of an audience of industry peers, guests, family and friends, before judges finalised and independently verified the scores and announced Joshua as the Institute’s 17th Restaurant Manager of the Year.

Following the announcement, Robert said: “This competition continues to highlight just how skilled and influential restaurant managers are within hospitality businesses. The depth of talent coming through gives us real confidence in the future of the industry. Joshua is a shining example of how this competition can impact a person’s career and their confidence. He is indeed a very worthy winner.”

He continued: “The Institute keeps putting people into the spotlight and helps them believe in what they can achieve, and that means a great deal. I came back again this year and I won. If I can do it, anyone can. I’m truly honoured to be named Restaurant Manager of the Year 2026 and I’m very grateful to the Institute for their work and for helping people like me.”

The competition recognises restaurant managers who demonstrate strong leadership, commercial awareness and a clear commitment to their teams and guests and is open to hospitality professionals globally who perform the role of restaurant manager.