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UK: The Independent Hotel Show London (IHS), in partnership with James Hallam Insurance Brokers, has announced the shortlist for the Independent Hotel Show Awards 2026, in partnership with Preferred Hotels & Resorts.
This year’s awards have split the Independent Hotel of the Year category into two: over 50 rooms and under 50 rooms.
Shortlisted entries for 2026 include:
Independent Hotel of the Year – Over 50 Rooms
- Another Place, The Lake
- Horwood House
- The Grand, York
- The Newman
- The Tempus
Independent Hotel of the Year – Under 50 Rooms
- Calcot & Spa
- Cromlix
- Foxhill Manor
- The Cavendish at Baslow
- The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa
Hotel Rising Star
- Isaac Arikawe, welcome host, Grantley Hall
- Nicole Johnson, head of marketing, The Newman
- Sandia Scott, head of people and culture, The Newman
- Sophie Morgan, wedding and events co-ordinator, Morgans Hotel
Hotel Design of the Year
- Calcot Manor & Spa, Blue Forest
- Cromlix, Suzanne Garuda, Garuda Interior Design
- Miiro Templeton Garden Hotel, Holland Harvey, Thurstan and garden designer Rupert Muldoon
- Penmaenuchaf, Nicola Harding & Co
- The Old Bell Hotel, Charlotte Smiley and Kim Hanks
The winners will be announced at the Independent Hotel Show Awards during Independent Hotel Show 2026, taking place at Olympia on 5–6 October 2026.
David Todd, event director of the Independent Hotel Show, said: “Introducing separate categories for hotels over and under 50 rooms allows us to better reflect the diversity of today’s independent hotel sector and recognise excellence at every scale. Congratulations to all of this year’s shortlisted finalists, whose innovation, dedication and passion continue to inspire the industry.”
The awards are judged by a panel of industry experts. This year’s judging panel comprised:
- Brenda Collin, executive vice president of Europe, Preferred Hotels & Resorts
- Dean Culpan, general manager, Templeton Garden
- Petra Clayton, CEO, CUSTARD
- Sarah Duncan, ESG consultant and author of The Sustainable Business Book and The Ethical Business Book
- Jade Evans, editor, The Hotel Magazine
- Eloise Hanson, editor, Boutique Hotel News
- Sophie Harper, editor, Hotel Designs
- Peter Hancock, conference and awards host
- Kalindi Juneja, CEO, PoB Hotels
- Nick Maddox, head of risk, James Hallam Hospitality & Leisure
- Zoe Monk, managing editor, Boutique Hotelier
- Simon Numphud, managing director, AA Media
- Jane Pendlebury, CEO, HOSPA
- Robert Richardson, CEO, Institute of Hospitality
“Independent hotels continue to set the benchmark for creativity, authenticity and exceptional guest experiences, and this year’s shortlist is a testament to the talent driving the sector forward,” said Collin of Preferred Hotels & Resorts. “We are proud to support the Independent Hotel Show Awards and congratulate all finalists on this well-deserved recognition.”
Independent Hotel Show London 2026 takes place on 5-6 October at Olympia London. To register to attend or find out more, visit the website here.
Highlights:
- Independent Hotel Show London 2026 has revealed the shortlist for the Independent Hotel Show Awards, with the Independent Hotel of the Year category now split between hotels with more than and fewer than 50 rooms.
- Independent Hotel of the Year finalists include Another Place, The Lake, Horwood House, The Grand, York and The Newman in the over-50-room category, alongside Calcot & Spa, Cromlix and The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa among smaller hotels.
- Hotel Rising Star finalists include hospitality professionals from Grantley Hall, The Newman and Morgans Hotel, while Hotel Design of the Year finalists include Calcot Manor & Spa, Cromlix, Miiro Templeton Garden Hotel and Penmaenuchaf.
- The Independent Hotel Show Awards 2026 winners will be announced at Olympia London on 5-6 October 2026, during Independent Hotel Show London, in partnership with Preferred Hotels & Resorts.
