The winners of the GQ Food and Drink Awards 2018

Now in its fourth year, GQ has announced the winners of its Food and Drink Awards 2018 which celebrate the very best of the British food and beverage industry.

• For more on this year's GQ Awards click here: www.gq-magazine.co.uk
• See videos from Core
• More on Paul Ainsworth

The winners included Core by Clare Smyth which took the top spot in the Best Restaurant category and Paul Ainsworth who was voted Best Chef.

On Instagram, Paul said: "Utterly blown away to have won @britishgq best chef of the year Firstly, this is for our team of absolute legends who believe in the journey and values that @emmaainsw6rth and I believe great hospitality should be. @no6padstow @rojanosinthesquare@padstowtownhouse you’re our family and we love you. Then there’s the fact me mucker @cheftomkerridge presented me this very special award which made it so special. Love you Team Kerridge.

"Lastly having this picture with @chefclaresmyth really was a magical moment, we stood side by side grafting blood, sweat and tears together for @gordongram at RHR. Tonight 16 years later we stand side by side again with our own achievements."

Other categories included Best Interior which was won by Bob Bob Ricard; Best Breakthrough won by Mark birchall's Moor Hall; Belvedere Best Bar was Swift; Best Hotel was The Ned; Best Overall Experience went to Simon Rogan's L'Enclume; Best Pub was The Fuzzy Duck; Best Sommelier was won by Sonal Clare at Purnell’s and Best Restaurateur went to Karam, Sunaina and Jyotin Sethi - the Sethis have turned their talents to plentiful and varied establishments. From Sri Lankan Hoppers, to an unconventional take on American hotdogs at Bubbledogs, the JKS portfolio covers a lot of ground and the trio have played their part in the diverse London food scene.

Best Front of House was Sandia Chang, she was also celebrated at the 2017 Michelin Guide UK awards when she was presented with Welcome and Service Award alongside James Knappett of Bubbledogs. On her GQ Award she said: "Came home tonight with “Best Front of House” from @britishgq but mostly honoured and proud to be a part of the @jks_restaurants family who won “Best Restauranteur”."

Ruth Rodgers from River Cafe received this year's Lifetime Achievement Award, and GQ wrote: "Last year was the 30th ­anniversary of the opening by Ruth Rogers with her late business partner, Rose Gray, of one of London’s most iconic restaurants. Famously intended as the canteen for Richard Rogers’ architectural practice, River Cafe has built its reputation by serving flawlessly simple, seasonal Italian food and the ingredients are still at the centre of everything Rogers does. The tables are filled with a who’s who of London’s most interesting people and chances are the next Jamie Oliver is in the kitchen right now..."