Food And Drink Awards Terms of Entry
- The Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards do not accept entries created wholly or partly using generative AI. If a judge raises a query about an entry, it will be screened using AI-detection software as part of the eligibility process. Where screening raises concerns, further review may be undertaken to establish whether an entry complies with the rules and conditions of entry.
- Using AI as an assistive tool:
✓ AI tools may be used for research and information gathering provided the creator independently develops and produces the submitted work.
- Using AI as a generative tool:
✗ You may not enter any AI-generated content (including text, translations, or images)
- Privacy and disclosure:
✗ Do not upload unpublished or confidential work, or third-party material you do not have permission to share, to publicly accessible AI tools. ✓ You must disclose any use of AI tools
- An independent panel of expert judges, led by Angela Hartnett, select the winners in 12 categories from work published between 1st January and 31st December 2026 by a publisher, media outlet or platform based principally in the UK or the Republic of Ireland, or produced for and broadcast on a platform based principally in either territory during this period.
- The Photographer of the Year category - presented in partnership with the World Food Photography Awards, sponsored by Tenderstem® - is judged by Caroline Kenyon, founder of the WFPA; Naomi Lowe, Creative Director; and Tom Athron, CEO of Fortnum & Mason. The entry process remains the same.
- Entrants must be over 18 years old and resident in the UK or Republic of Ireland.
- Entries generated, in whole or in part, using generative AI are strictly prohibited (see the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards’ Generative AI Policy)
- To ensure a fair and impartial judging process, all written category entries will be anonymised prior to review. This includes the removal of author names and publication titles. The same anonymisation process will be applied to entries in the photography category. Books and audio submissions cannot be anonymised; however, all judges are required to assess these entries with the same impartiality that underpins the Awards.
- Entries may be moved into suitable alternative categories at the Judges' discretion
- There is no cost to enter.
- The decision of the judges is final.
- Authors, writers, in print or online, and photographers and broadcasters may enter themselves, or they may be entered by their publisher, commissioning editor, agent or production team into one or more of the 13 categories set out below, on the following terms and conditions:
1. FOOD BOOK: For a non-recipe book exploring food, its culture, regions or history
2. DEBUT FOOD BOOK: For an author's first non-recipe book exploring food, its culture, regions or history
3. COOKERY BOOK: For a recipe-focused book about the preparation and cooking of food
4. DEBUT COOKERY BOOK: For an author's first recipe-focused book about the preparation and cooking of food
5. DRINK BOOK: For a book exploring drink, its culture, regions or history
6. DEBUT DRINK BOOK: For an author's first book exploring drink, its culture, regions or history
7. FOOD WRITER: For writing on any aspect of food, including its culture, history, people, traditions and influence, in any media
8. DRINK WRITER: For writing on any aspect of drink, including its culture, history, people, traditions and influence, in any media
9. COOKERY WRITER: For original, recipe-led writing about the preparation and cooking of food in any media, accompanied by an introduction of approximately 500 words
10. RESTAURANT WRITER: For restaurant reviews in any media, assessing food, service, ambience and value
11. PHOTOGRAPHER: For food and drink photography published in print or online, demonstrating visual storytelling, originality and composition
12. PROGRAMME: For a programme about food or drink, broadcast on any medium, combining strong editorial, entertainment and production
13. AUDIO (Radio or Podcast): For a radio programme or podcast about food or drink, broadcast on any medium, combining strong editorial, engaging storytelling and effective use of sound and production
- 1-6. Book categories: A book may only be entered into one Book category (ie the same book cannot be entered into multiple Book categories). To enter, publishers must agree to the Publisher Declaration of Original Work: By submitting a book to the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards, the publisher confirms that it has been created without the use of generative AI, wholly or in part, and accepts responsibility for ensuring compliance with the Awards’ rules and conditions of entry.
- 7-10. For Writer categories ONE piece of work must be entered. A submission may be made into each of the following; Food Writer, Cookery Writer, Drink Writer and Restaurant Writer, but only one entry per category. To enter, writers must agree to the Declaration of Original Work: I confirm that this entry was created without the use of generative AI, in whole or in part. This includes all written content, translations, images, illustrations and other visual materials submitted as part of the entry
- 7-10. Work, if online, must be from a site based principally in the UK or Republic of Ireland. If there is any doubt as to where a website is aimed, the decision of the judges will be final.
- 11. A maximum of THREE images (max 2mb) may be entered for the Photographer category. To enter the photographer must agree to the Declaration of Original Work: I confirm that this entry was created without the use of generative AI, in whole or in part, to create, replace, extend or materially reconstruct any visual element of the entered images.
- 12. For the Programme category, multiple submissions may be made for different titles Only ONE episode per series. To enter, production teams must agree to the Declaration of Original Work: I confirm that this programme was created without the use of generative AI, in whole or in part. This includes scripts, narration, editing, sound and visual materials submitted as part of the entry.
- 13. For the Audio category, multiple submissions may be made by a production team for different programmes or one-off specials, provided each entry features a different producer and presenter team. Only ONE episode per series. To enter, the production teams must agree to the Declaration of Original Work: I confirm that this audio entry was created without the use of generative AI, in whole or in part. This includes scripts, narration, editing, sound and visual materials submitted as part of the entry.
- Entries are made by logging onto the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards website and following the instructions.
- Entries and copies of the relevant work must be received between 10am (UK time) on 1st December 2026 and noon (UK time) on 27th January 2027.
- The judges will decide which entry they consider to be the best overall in each of the judged categories: the decision of the judges is final and correspondence will not be entered into.
- The winners will be the individual author, writer, photographer or broadcasting team (as applicable).
- Winners will be informed that they have won a category at a presentation event hosted on Thursday 29th April 2027, after 7.30pm at the Royal Exchange, London.
- A newsletter announcing all of the winners will be sent to the Awards database at 11am on Friday 30th April 2027.
- Winners will be informed that they have won a category at a presentation event hosted on 30th April 2026, after 7.30pm at the Royal Exchange, London.
- In relation to the Content Creator of the Year and Rising Star Content Creator of the Year, voted for by the public, notwithstanding the number of votes cast for each entrant, Fortnum & Mason, along with experts from Meta, TikTok and YouTube, reserve the right to select the recipient of the award..
- There is no cost to enter and no purchase is necessary.
- Entries must have been published between 1st January and 31st December 2026 by a publisher, media outlet or platform based principally in the UK or the Republic of Ireland, or produced for and broadcast on a platform based principally in either territory during this period..
- Entrants must be over 18 years old and resident in the UK or Republic of Ireland.
- Authors, writers - in print and online - photographers and broadcasters may enter themselves, or they may be entered by their publisher, production company, commissioning editor or agent.
- Entries generated, in whole or in part, using generative AI are strictly prohibited. The Awards exist to celebrate genuine human creativity and journalistic integrity.
- There is no cost to enter.
- The decision of the judges is final.
- Publishers may make multiple submissions, but a book may only be entered into one of the following categories: Food Book, Debut Food Book, Cookery Book, Debut Cookery Book, Drink Book or Debut Drink Book
- Publishers must disclose any ghost-writing and name all co-authors on the entry form
- The content of a book must be original or, in the case of annual guides, at least 75% new content
- Book PDF files (max 2mb) are only to be submitted if the hard copy is not available
- Writer categories - PDF files only
- Writers must submit one piece of work per entry
- Writers may enter their work once in each of the following categories: Food Writer, Cookery Writer, Drink Writer and Restaurant Writer
- Upload a PDF file labelled with your full name and the title of the article
- Links cannot be accepted
- Multiple submissions may be made for different titles in the Programme category
- Only one episode per series
- Submit a link or MP4 file labelled with the programme title. The file or link must remain accessible, with any required password provided, until 31st March 2027
- Failure to provide a password may affect the entry
- Multiple submissions may be made by a production team for different programmes or one-off specials, provided each entry features a different producer and presenter team
- Only one episode per series
- Submit a link or MP3 file labelled with the programme title. The file or link must remain accessible, with any required password provided, until 31st March 2027
- Failure to provide a password may affect the entry
We accept no responsibility for entries not successfully completed due to a technical fault of any kind or otherwise. Incomplete entries or entries that do not comply with these terms and conditions will not be considered valid for entry. The Promoter accepts no responsibility for any entries which are not completed for any reason. By making a submission for anyone other than yourself you confirm that you have the authority to enter the relevant writer, photographer or broadcaster in that category. Fortnum & Mason may produce promotional material in support of the winning entries and you will, if requested by Fortnum & Mason and wherever possible, ensure that such material is distributed with and the official Fortnum & Mason winner designation and artwork (as provided by Fortnum & Mason) is used with and in copies of the entry and in future works by the author, writer, photographer or broadcaster.
Fortnum & Mason accepts no responsibility for any damage, loss, injury or disappointment suffered or incurred by you as a result of entering the Awards or the winners accepting the prize, except for death or personal injury that is caused by its negligence or where the damage, loss, injury or disappointment is caused by its fraud. The products won must be stored and consumed in accordance with their instructions. These terms and conditions are subject to the laws of England and Wales and any dispute shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
These terms are subject to the laws of England and Wales and any dispute shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts. Promoter: Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, London W1A 1ER.
The public may vote for 1 of 9 pre-selected Content Creators to win the Content Creator of the Year 2027, or nominate a Content Creator of their choice. The vote is open from 2pm (UK time) on Thursday, 18th March 2027 to noon (UK time) on Thursday, 8th April 2027 (Draw Window).
The public may vote for 1 of 9 pre-selected Rising Star Content Creators to win the Rising Star Content Creator of the Year 2027, or nominate a Rising Star Content Creator of their choice. The vote is open from 2pm (UK time) on Thursday, 18th March 2027 to noon (UK time) on Thursday, 8th April 2027 (Draw Window).
Every member of the public that votes for the Content Creator of the Year and the Rising Star Content Creator of the Year, or both, during the Draw Window will automatically be entered into a prize draw to 'win one of FOUR Fortnum & Mason hampers' worth approx. £150. Entry is subject to the terms and conditions below. Only one entry per category / per email address and if there are more only the first entry will be eligible.
If you would rather not be automatically entered into the prize draw, please email: customer.services@fortnumandmason.co.uk with Content Creator / Rising Star Content Creator of the Year Prize Draw' in the subject line.
The promoter is Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, London W1A 1ER
1. Fortnum & Mason reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition or the rules at its sole discretion and without notice
2. The competition is open to UK and Republic of Ireland residents only.
3. Participating entrants must be 18 years or over and reside in the UK or Republic of Ireland.
4. The competition is limited to one entry per person.
5. The prizes are subject to availability. The promoter reserves the right to provide a similar prize of equal or greater value. There is no cash alternative and the prizes are non-transferable and non-refundable.
6. The promoter is not responsible for lost or late entries due to technical difficulties or otherwise
7. TWO winners from votes cast in the Content Creator Competition and TWO winners from votes cast in the Rising Star Content Creator Competition will be selected at random from the eligible entries received by noon on Thursday, 8th April 2027. The decision of the promoter is final.
8. Entrants confirm that they have read and agree to be bound to by the Terms & Conditions.
Read the Fortnum & Mason Diversity and Inclusion Statement here.
Read the Fortnum and Mason Privacy Policy here.