University of Leeds Catering crowned University of the Year 2026 at U Dine Awards

Award sponsored by Rational UK and presented by celebrity chef Simon Rimmer.

The University of Leeds Catering Service took home the top-prize at this year’s U Dine Awards, after being recognised as The University of the Year.

The U Dine Awards were established to celebrate excellence in the University hospitality sector. The University of the Year category recognises a university that has delivered an exceptional period of innovation, quality and leadership within the higher education catering sector.

This top honour reflects a sustained commitment to delivering outstanding dining experiences across campus, alongside a forward-thinking approach that has helped to drive sector-leading innovation.

Over the past three years, the University of Leeds has been repeatedly recognised by U Dine judges, earning shortlist positions across multiple categories, including:

• On Trend Food for its Gyros concept and wider Refectory offer
• Café Concept for the Great Food at Leeds Hot Drink Subscription
• Residential Dining Award for its student Meal Plan scheme

This year’s Café Concept entry highlighted the success of the Great Food at Leeds Hot Drink Subscription, an app-enabled initiative giving customers flexible, great-value access to drinks across 12 campus cafés. Designed to respond to changing customer behaviours, the scheme combines digital convenience with strong commercial impact.

Prioritising the experience of the campus community within its outlets has been central to the projects behind the service’s award-winning submissions, with a clear focus on how students and staff want to eat, work and socialise. While 2026 survey data highlights a strong 80% customer satisfaction rate across University of Leeds outlets, the team remains committed further evolving the overall offer.

Commenting on the award, U Dine Judge David McKown MBE, said:

“The University of Leeds has been named University of the Year following a sustained period of excellence and achievement. Entries submitted by the institution have been monitored and evaluated over several years, demonstrating an outstanding commitment to innovation, consistency and sector leadership. As a result, the judges unanimously selected the University of Leeds for this prestigious award, recognising its continued impact, forward-thinking approach, and dedication to delivering exceptional standards.”

Ben Collier, Head of Catering and Hospitality at University of Leeds, has also commented on the achievement:

“We are delighted to be named as the U Dine University of the Year. It recognises years of hard work, innovation and an ambition to lead the sector in campus dining. We remain committed to delivering high standards and creating dining experiences that truly add value to campus life.”