Video: Dick Turpin wins Lifetime Achievement Catey

Dick Turpin was one of the big winners at tonight's Cateys, picking up the Lifetime Achievement award at the hospitality industry Oscars.

Long considered an unsung hero in hospitality, Turpin's career has spanned hotels, high-street restaurants, food service management, department stores, airports and railway stations. More recently he has been known, along with Peter Smale, as the founder of Turpin Smale Foodservice Consultancy, where the pair managed more than 350 assignments.

But what sets Turpin apart as an individual is how he has confidentially advised to many in the industry and to this day continues to influence the careers of hospitality workers from junior staff through to leaders of major companies.

Moreover, Turpin is deeply dedicated to charitable causes and now, semi-retired, continues to travel the country working for industry bodies such as Hospitality Action, the Ark Foundation and Ark for Business and the Savoy Educational Trust.

Commenting on winning the Lifetime Achievement Catey, Turpin said: "I feel thrilled and honoured to have been recognised in this way by the industry I love. I continue to enjoy my career within the hospitality industry, with the support of so many colleagues and friends."

More than 1,000 senior decision-makers were witness to the occasion at London's Grosvenor House, where two-Michelin-starred chef and double Great British Menu winner Tom Kerridge, chef-proprietor of the Hand & Flowers in Marlow, consulted on the evening's menu.

Guests also saw Arnold Fewell, managing director of AVF Marketing, pick up the Special Award for his ongoing work to further health in education and awareness of accessibility, while his company also won the Best Group Marketing Campaign Catey.

Elsewhere, Jason Atherton, chef-proprietor of the Michelin-starred Pollen Street Social in London, picked up the prestigious Chef Award, while his former mentor, Stephen Terry, chef-proprietor of the Hardwick in Abergavenny, was named Restaurateur of the Year - Independent.

Meanwhile, the French Laundry at Harrods pop-up restaurant, which saw world-famous US chef Thomas Keller set up camp at the Knightsbridge department store, won the Best Independent Marketing Campaign prize.

The Pub and Bar award went to Lee Cash and Hamish Stoddard from Peach Pubs, while the Hotel of the Year - Group Catey went to the Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane, which reopened last year following a £125m refurbishment.

Cateys 2012: Full list of winners

Best Group Marketing Campaign
AVF Marketing for the Local Authority Caterers Association

Best Independent Marketing Campaign
The French Laundry at Harrods

Best Use of Technology
PizzaExpress

Accessibility Award
Chewton Glen

Restaurateur of the Year - Group
Zeev Godik, founder and chief executive, Gaucho Group

Restaurateur of the Year - Independent
Stephen Terry, chef-proprietor, The Hardwick

Sustainable Business Award
Harper Adams University College

Education and Training Award
David Cochrane, chief executive, HIT Scotland

Manager of the Year
Justin Pinchbeck, hotel director, Lime Wood

Health and Nutrition Award
Charlton House

Menu of the Year
Quo Vadis

Pub and Bar Award

Lee Cash and Hamish Stoddard, Peach Pubs

Hotel of the Year - Group
Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane

Hotel of the Year - IndependenGilpin Hotel & Lake House

Newcomer Award
Russell Norman and Richard Beatty, Polpo Restaurants

Public Sector Caterer Award
Andrew Jones, service development director, innovation and product, ISS Facility Services, Healthcare

Food Service Caterer Award
Ben Warner, founder, Benugo

Chef Award
Jason Atherton, chef proprietor, Pollen Street Social

Special Award
Arnold Fewell, managing director of AVF Marketing

Lifetime Achievement Award
Dick Turpin

By Kerstin Kühn

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