A Decade of Celebrating Brighton & Hove’s Culinary Excellence
The independent hospitality sector lives in a constant state of survival. Rising costs, fluctuating consumer confidence and relentless competition mean that local businesses are always seeking stability, recognition and – crucially – visibility.
In Brighton and Hove, we as organisers of the BRAVO Awards (Brighton Restaurant Awards Vote Online) have spent almost a decade proudly providing all three.
As we close our ninth year in 2025 and look ahead to our tenth anniversary, the BRAVOS have clearly become more than a competition. They are now a trusted fixture in the city’s food landscape – a public vote of confidence that translates directly into bookings, pride and momentum for independent venues across Brighton, Hove and wider Sussex.
The Power of Longevity and Public Trust
Nearly a decade of annual voting shows that the BRAVOS are not a trend but an established part of the city. That longevity (2016 – to present) gives the awards real weight. When a potential customer is researching where to eat, seeing a BRAVO ranking or award offers instant reassurance because it’s rooted in genuine customer experience.
The BRAVOS are democratic and inclusive: all venues are welcome and all votes count.
The variety of categories invites wide participation, and the public decide the winners – meaning anyone, from long-loved institutions to new neighbourhood gems, can rise to the top.
This public backing matters deeply to the teams behind the scenes.
As Abe Garman from Il Bistro, winner of Best International Cuisine, reflected:
“It feels so amazing to win… The award validates not just our food, but our entire legacy in the city.”
Record-Breaking Reach and Real-World Impact
The commercial value of the BRAVOS is clear: we provide independent businesses with visibility that many national brands struggle to achieve. The 2025 awards saw a record-breaking 72,911 votes cast by food lovers across Brighton, Hove and Sussex – our biggest year yet.
Within four days of the results going live, the awards pages reached over 100,000 views, as diners immediately used the Top 20 lists and winners as a guide on where to book. For small, independent venues fighting for attention in a saturated market, this visibility is invaluable.
As Dominic Sherriff from Bonsai Plant Kitchen put it:
“The BRAVO awards massively helped put us on the map… without these independent awards it’s hard for small businesses to stand out.”
Winning has a direct commercial effect. One past winner summed it up simply:
“Business has definitely improved thanks to BRAVO… When people see ‘award-winning’, they come to us.”
There are many examples of what it means to win a BRAVO Award and here are a few quotes from BRAVO winners past and present.
Sustainability and Digital Evolution
The BRAVOS remain relevant by evolving with both industry priorities and public expectations. The 2025 awards introduced two significant updates:
A Fully Digital, Paperless Process
This year we moved the awards fully online. This streamlined voting and reinforced our own commitment to sustainable, low-impact operations in line with the city’s ethos.
A Strengthened Sustainability Champions Category
Venues entering the Sustainability Champions category were required to engage with the new sustainability checklist created as part of the Brighton Sustainability Toolkit.
This elevated the award from a popularity vote to recognition of genuine commitment to practices that benefit people, planet and profit.
Celebrating Community, Creativity and Resilience
In an economic climate defined by uncertainty and rising costs, the BRAVOS provide a much-needed dose of positivity for the sector.
They shine a light on the hard work, creativity and care that keep our hospitality scene so vibrant.
As the winner of Best Sunday Roast, Embers shared:
“Winning is a great feeling… The award validates that immense effort and unique creativity.”
The huge public response shows how deeply the public care about supporting their favourite places and discovering new ones.
The BRAVOS are, at their heart, a celebration of choosing local.
Looking Ahead to a Decade of BRAVOS
As we move toward our tenth anniversary, the BRAVOS continue to champion everything that makes Brighton and Hove’s independent food scene exceptional: resilience, collaboration and an unwavering belief in the value of local businesses.
We remain committed to providing a positive platform that amplifies the people and teams who make this city one of the UK’s most exciting and vibrant culinary destinations.
