MAGAZINE

November seems to have whizzed on by. It was one of those months where the energy in hospitality felt constant and every week brought something new. From our annual Street Food Championships to the Autumn Budget, there was barely time to take it all in. 

This year’s Street Food Championships were a highlight for me. Operators from across the country showed up with talent, grit and dishes that proved how much creativity is still bubbling away in this scene. 

Meeting new faces, seeing familiar ones and feeling the buzz from brands already planning their 2026 entries gave the event a lift that stayed with us long after the doors closed. What stood out most was the support. Finalists brought friends, family members and teammates, and also made some new friends along the way. It’s great to see our community banding together even during tough times.

Next month we shift gears for our inaugural Fried Chicken Championships, celebrating a day filled with oily goodness. Registration to attend the live cook-off and awards evening is open, and I hope you will join us in celebrating our winners. You can register at friedchickenchampionships.co.uk.

And the momentum doesn’t stop there. The National Burger Awards and the Freakshake Challenge return in March, with entries still open until 30 January. There’s never been a better time to enter and show us what you and your team have got. 

As we enter the festive season, I want to acknowledge the pressure it brings. You face long days, late nights, unpredictable footfall, travelling crowds, festive menus, missing staff and deliveries that don’t always arrive when you need them. It is a lot, and it often goes unseen. 

I hope you give yourself and your teams a chance to breathe once January arrives. Making it through another year in the current climate is no small thing and hospitality deserves all the recognition it can get. The Autumn Budget may not have delivered what many hoped for – you can read more about what it means for our sector on page 6. 

Even so, I am hearing exciting whispers about what 2026 may bring for OOH Magazine. I cannot wait to share more soon.

Until next time,

Tamsyn Halm 
Editor