In light of the devastating effect of COVID-19 upon the hospitality industry and beyond, The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2020 awards has been postponed
The iconic award ceremony, which aims to honour the world’s 50 very best restaurants on a yearly basis, will not take place on 2nd June 2020 in Antwerp as originally scheduled.
50 Best, the organisation behind the ranking and awards, has also confirmed that its annual list will not be released this year in a ranked format.
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants physical event programme planned for Antwerp in Flanders – the Flemish-speaking northern part of Belgium – will be postponed until 2021, circumstances permitting.
Instead, 50 Best aims to focus its resources on supporting, connecting and uniting the global gastronomic community. It will use its global platform and network to design and promote meaningful initiatives that will help boost the restaurant sector in these difficult times.
William Drew, Director of Content for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants says: “Given the circumstances globally, we will put all our efforts into helping the restaurant sector to fight for its future, as well as assisting in the work that leading chefs and restaurateurs are themselves doing to help others.”
The 50 Best team also seeks to bring together its community of high-profile chefs and restaurateurs, brand partners and leaders in gastronomy, as well as food-focused media, to share fresh ideas and best practice. Further details of its plans for the year will be communicated in the coming weeks and months.
This decision has been reached as a result not only of current international travel restrictions and severe health concerns, but also in light of the horrific toll that the pandemic is taking on the restaurant and hospitality sectors worldwide – not to mention the suffering of millions of individuals at the hands of the virus.
“We stand united with the restaurant sector at this unprecedented time,” adds Drew. “Today we make a pledge that even though there will be no celebration of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants this year, we will act to support and defend restaurants today and in the future. We ask for the community to join us in the initiatives that will take the place of our planned event programme in Antwerp, Flanders this year.
“Our heartfelt thanks go to the restaurant sector and all those who have stepped up to support the community. From offering meals and delivery services, to those liaising with government officials to protect restaurants and their future, we stand with you all.”
