Karen Jones made a dame as hospitality leaders recognised in Queen's Birthday Honours

Jones, who this year won the Retailer’s Retailer of the Year award, was recognised after her extensive involvement helping the Government to understand and support the hospitality industry during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Other industry figures to be recognised in this year's Birthday Honours include British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) chief executive Emma McClarkin and HIT Training co-founder and managing director Jill Whittaker, who both received OBEs; and MasterChef judges Gregg Wallace and John Torode, who were each awarded MBEs. 

Jones, who is also chair of Hawksmoor, Mowgli and Deliveroo, said she was 'deeply honoured' to have been made a dame. 

“I feel incredibly fortunate because I am keenly aware that such recognition is only possible because of unceasing work from many talented people to whom I am deeply indebted,” she said.

Having helped set up and float Theme Restaurants in her early 20s, Jones went on to launch Café Rouge. In 2002 she became CEO of Spirit Group.

She is an independent advisor to the Crown Estate, sits on Imbiba’s advisory board and chairs Frontier Pubs, a JV with Stonegate.

Jones also co-chairs the Hospitality Sector Council, a collaboration with the government to find solutions to pressing issues such as labour shortages and supply chain challenges.

“Business is fascinating and hospitality is my passion: to be recognised for services to both makes me want to be better and do more,” she added.

“Together we will continue to build hospitality’s appeal as a sought-after sector in which to work, which provides great jobs, training and skills for the new cohort of young women and men who have come into the sector in recent times and who will be our leaders and entrepreneurs of the future.”

McClarkin was awarded an OBE for services to the beer and pub industry, in particular her support and championing of the industry throughout the pandemic.

She said: “I am delighted and humbled to receive this honour. It is truly wonderful to receive this recognition on behalf of the beer and pub sector and for the incredible work the British Beer and Pub Association have done throughout the pandemic and continue to do to support the sector I am so passionate about.

“When I entered the industry in 2019, I had no idea what lay ahead of us, but I have been truly amazed at the resilience, warmth and ingenuity of the people and businesses in our sector to come together and pull through a once in a lifetime challenge.”

Others recognised for their contribution to the hospitality industry include Sharan Pasricha, founder and co-CEO of Ennismore, who was made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Pasricha founded Ennismore in 2011 and under his leadership the business saw exponential growth, including the global expansion of The Hoxton across Europe and the US; the reinvention of Gleneagles; and the creation of Working From, a shared community workspace.

During this time, Ennismore was included in Fast Company’​s World Most Innovative Companies in 2020 and 2021 and selected as part of the Financial Times​ Future 100.

In 2021, Pasricha entered into a joint venture with Accor to make Ennismore one of the world’s 'largest and fastest-growing global lifestyle hospitality companies'.

“I am incredibly thrilled and humbled to be awarded an honour and to be recognised in this way,” he said.

“I can’t begin to thank those who have been with me on this journey; from those who started with me at the beginning of Ennismore working in a broom cupboard at The Hoxton, Shoreditch, to those who have joined since and passionately continue our mission to build brands rooted in community - I share this recognition with each of them.

“Finally, I’d like to thank my family, especially my wife Eiesha, who has been by my side throughout; I couldn’t do what I do without her.”