Why the BRAVO Awards Are Good for Business

Brighton Restaurant Awards Vote Online (BRAVO)

The BRAVOS are a city-wide celebration of the food and drink scene across Brighton, Hove and Sussex – but they’re also a powerful marketing opportunity for independent venues. From increased visibility and footfall to a stronger online presence and a sense of team pride, the benefits go far beyond the trophy. Here’s why getting involved in BRAVO is one of the smartest decisions your hospitality business can make.

1. Instant Exposure to Thousands of Diners

On results day alone, the BRAVO Awards results pages generated over 50,000 page views. Each visitor viewed around 9 winners pages, users spent nearly four minutes reading about venues, meaning they actively explored the categories that mattered most to them. Within just four days, the results pages reached over 100,000 views, as diners looked for places to visit based on the latest BRAVO winners and Top 20 venues.

Being featured means a venue is seen by thousands of eager customers, many of whom are already planning their next visit.

This visibility starts immediately after the results are announced and continues for the rest of the year.

2. Year-Round Visibility on Restaurants Brighton

Winning or being placed in a BRAVO category means you’ll receive ongoing promotion across the RestaurantsBrighton.co.uk platform. That includes:

• A place in BRAVO results pages that continue to receive heavy traffic all year
• Inclusion in BRAVO editorial and roundup features
• Potential top placement in local Google search results via the Restaurants Brighton site

In 2024, BRAVO results pages received 150,000 page views, this made up around 10% of the total website traffic to RestaurantsBrighton.co.uk – that’s a huge slice of exposure available only to those who are placed.

3. Trust and Credibility That Drives Bookings

People trust people. And when thousands of locals vote for your venue, it sends a strong signal to potential diners: this place is loved. Whether they’re locals deciding where to eat tonight or visitors planning a weekend away, seeing your venue ranked or winning a BRAVO builds instant credibility.

Many people use BRAVO categories to discover new favourites, or validate their existing choices – and you’ll often find new customers walking through your door saying, “We saw you in the BRAVOs!”

4. A Marketing Boost You Can Shout About

Being placed or winning a BRAVO gives you immediate and authentic content for your marketing:

• Add your BRAVO badge to your website. Badges are given for each category which includes a winners badge, Top 3, Top 5, Top 10 and Top 20.
• Share your success in your email newsletters
• Show it off in your venue window
• Create buzz across social media
• Use the recognition in team recruitment and PR efforts
• And if you’re a BRAVO Winner, use the BRAVO trophy as a talking point to demonstrate how good you are!

This is a ready-made reason to shout about your business – and it’s something your team and customers will love to get behind.

5. Team Pride and Customer Excitement

Winning a BRAVO doesn’t just help from a business perspective – it’s a big deal for your team morale and for your loyal customers. When staff feel recognised and customers feel proud of their favourite venue, it creates a sense of celebration and connection that lasts.

One 2024 winner told us:

“Being the winner of the BRAVO Award 2024 for the Best Sunday Roast was one of our biggest achievements yet after 21 years in hospitality! Sundays were always buzzing, but now we hear it every week: ‘Now I know why they won the BRAVO!’”
— Gayle Newman, The Ladies Mile

6. Real Business Results

This isn’t just feel-good fluff – BRAVO success translates into real business and revenue.

“Business has definitely improved thanks to BRAVO! Potential customers go online to do their research and when they see ‘award-winning’ — they come to us!”
– The Ladies Mile

“BRAVO was one of the first awards we won, and it’s always been a big supporter. Working with them has been massively beneficial for us.”
– Dominic Sherriff, Bonsai Plant Kitchen
(Winner of Best Vegan Restaurant – three years running 2023, 2024, 2025)

7. A Celebration of Local Hospitality

BRAVO is about showcasing the unique, independent spirit of Brighton and Sussex’s food scene.

It’s about lifting each other up and giving diners a chance to celebrate the venues they love.

Whether you win, place, or simply take part, being involved means your venue is part of a city-wide celebration that genuinely drives engagement.

Don’t Miss Out

BRAVOS are free to enter, simple to promote, and offers one of the biggest visibility boosts for independent venues in Brighton & Sussex. Whether you’re a fine dining spot, a buzzing Brighton cafe, or a cosy pub, getting involved means putting your venue in front of thousands of food-loving locals and visitors to Brighton, Hove and Sussex.

Let the city vote for you. Be proud. Be seen. Be BRAVO.