The owners of Sedbergh’s Black Bull are celebrating after collecting a Good Hotel Guide (GHG) Editor’s Choice Award for Best Hotels for Foodies 2025, at The Guide’s annual awards, held on 12th November at The Barnsdale, Oakham, Rutland, which closed the GHG Live, attended by over 150 independent hoteliers and suppliers.
Throughout the day, attendees at GHG Live took part in lively discussions centred on key challenges and innovations within the hospitality sector. They shared insights and ideas as part of a series of interactive panels and sessions designed to explore new and efficient solutions for running a hotel business. The event was rounded off with an evening that saw fellow hoteliers gather to celebrate the leading lights in the independent hotel world.
The GHG was first published in 1978, and since then it has become the leading independent guide to hotels in Great Britain, Ireland, Continental Europe, and the Caribbean. With over 700 entries the GHG features a collection of outstanding hotels, inns and B&Bs across Britain and Ireland that are recommended by readers and backed by professional inspection.
A trusted brand for 48 years and the only truly independent hotel guide in the UK, available in print and online, The Good Hotel Guide does not accept payment for inclusion. The inspectors do not accept free hospitality for their anonymous hotel visits.
During the evening’s awards presentation, the GHG team revealed its annual list of César winners, with 20 Césars (named after famous Swiss hotelier César Ritz) being presented to properties considered outstanding in their particular category.
Editor’s Choice award certificates were also to properties selected by the GHG editorial team headed up by Jane Knight, former travel editor of The Times, based on reader recommendations, with Sedbergh’s Black Bull collecting the certificate for the Best Foodie Hotel.
Other categories presented on the evening included: Best Restaurant with Rooms, Romantic, Walking, Spa, Seaside, Country House, Dog-friendly, Cities & Towns, Gardens, Pub with Rooms, and B&B.
Established in 1978, the current edition of the Good Hotel Guide features more than 700 hotels, inns, B&Bs and guesthouses, including 76 new entries this year. The Good Hotel Guide remains the only truly independent UK hotel guide, where readers play a crucial role by reporting on existing entries as well as recommending new discoveries, which is complemented by GHG inspections.
Richard Fraiman, chief executive and owner of The Good Hotel Guide, commented: “We’re delighted the Black Bull has been awarded an Editor’s Choice certificate for Best Foodie Hotel. The food really stood out for our readers and the feedback was exceptional. What Nina and James have achieved at the Black Bull is to be congratulated – well done!”
Co-owner of the gastropub with rooms, James Ratcliffe said: “We’re delighted that we’ve been presented with an Editor’s Choice Award by the hugely respected Good Hotel Guide, which has recognised The Black Bull as one of the Best Hotels for Foodies 2025. Awards like this demonstrate that we are heading in the right direction and recognise the hardwork and dedication of every single member of the team every member of the team from housekeeping to the front-of-house and pot wash to the chefs themselves and I’d like to say a huge thank you to them for all their hard work this year so far.’’
