The Real Food Cafe, Scotland’s iconic, multi-award-winning roadside eatery, has been recognised as one of the UK’s Top 30 Best Places to Work in Hospitality for 2025. The awards were announced at a ceremony in London this afternoon. This marks the third consecutive year the restaurant has received the prestigious accolade.
The restaurant, which last month celebrated its 20th anniversary, was placed at number 29 on the list, and notably, stands as one of just two Scottish companies to appear on the list. Dakota Hotels was listed in the Top 6.
Organised by The Caterer magazine, the ‘Best Places to Work in Hospitality’ awards identify and showcase the Top 30 operators in the UK who lead the way in people engagement and in creating a positive, progressive workplace culture.
Now in their 11th year, the awards are a celebration of employment best practice, with the Top 30 shining a spotlight on the organisations that are delivering on what really matters to employees, in addition to measuring engagement levels and identifying the key areas which contribute to retention.
The Top 30 list is compiled from employee questionnaires, which include five ‘killer’ questions that identify what’s important to them at work and how well their employer is delivering on that goal.
Key factors contributing to The Real Food Cafe’s top 30 ranking include:
Inclusive Culture: The restaurant champions an environment of trust, honesty, and open communication, holding regular culture sessions to ensure the well-being and satisfaction of its team.
Employee Feedback: Through anonymous surveys, the restaurant actively seeks and responds to its team’s feedback, demonstrating a genuine commitment to listening and continuous improvement.
Fair Compensation: As a Living Wage employer since 2019, The Real Food Cafe rewards its staff generously, with £24k in bonuses distributed among 28 employees in 2024.
Comprehensive Benefits: Employees enjoy a range of benefits, including access to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), subsidised health insurance and access to a national discounts platform.
Personal Development: The business invests in the learning and development of its team, ensuring everyone receives an annual Personal Development Review.
Sarah Heward, Co-Owner of The Real Food Cafe, expressed her pride in being listed in this year’s Top 30.
“We are so proud to be recognised as one of the Top 30 Best Employers in Hospitality for the third consecutive year. This award is a testament to our commitment to creating and maintaining a work environment rooted in authenticity, kindness and inclusivity with opportunities and a clear career pathway for our team members.”
“Our hospitality industry faces major recruitment and retention difficulties, none more so than in rural areas like Tyndrum, but this award demonstrates how building a strong employer brand based on values and purpose with genuine team care is the bedrock for stability and success, particularly during these challenging times.”
“The award is very much an acknowledgement of our entire team’s efforts to establish a workplace environment which values, supports and inspires everyone who works at The Real Food Cafe.”
“The Caterer deserves huge praise for showcasing industry advancements while promoting better employment practices that support all hospitality and tourism employees. Our restaurant’s operation brings great satisfaction to me. However, it comes with multiple difficulties because of the challenges created by Brexit and Covid, alongside limited affordable housing and poor public transportation.”
“The structural barriers in our area create substantial obstacles for rural employers to attract and maintain excellent team members, but we continuously advocate for additional solutions to achieve meaningful change while maintaining Living Wage standards and rewarding our team in every way we possibly can.”
“Our team is the heart and soul of The Real Food Café, and we understand that their happiness, well-being, and job satisfaction directly impact the success of our business. We will continue to build a positive work culture where everyone feels respected and valued, regardless of their role or background, in addition to our focus on serving our award-winning menu to the hundreds of thousands of customers who visit us each year.”
