Today 50 Best announces that it is postponing The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2020. The event in Antwerp, Flanders will take place in 2021, circumstances permitting.
For an update on the situation as of 15 October 2020, scroll down to the bottom of this article
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2020 awards, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, will not take place on 2nd June 2020 in Antwerp, Flanders. Neither will 50 Best release its annual list in ranked format this year.
50 Best has taken the decision to postpone the event programme in Antwerp, Flanders until 2021, if the situation allows. Its destination hosts, Visit Flanders and the City of Antwerp, look forward to welcoming the gastronomic community next summer, when we sincerely hope that restaurants will be well underway in a process of rebuilding and recovery.
William Drew, Director of Content for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, says: “Given the circumstances globally, in 2020 we will put all our efforts into helping the restaurant sector to fight for its future, as well as assisting in the work that chefs and restaurateurs are themselves doing to help others.”
In place of the global gastronomic gathering, 50 Best will design and develop impactful initiatives that will help the world work together in this time of need. It will also use its network to support and amplify programmes that will bolster businesses, while continuing its editorial campaign to support restaurants, restaurant workers and chefs.
This decision has been made 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,” says 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.”
50 Best is asking restaurants to complete a short survey to help us stay informed about the local situation in their region. Please do take the time to fill it out and likewise let us know of any initiatives that are available to support restaurant workers at w50best@wrbm.com.
UPDATE: On 15 October 2020, 50 Best announced that it aims to hold its 2021 awards ceremony and event programme in the city of Antwerp in Flanders on Tuesday, 8th June after a year’s hiatus. Further details on how the list will be complied and the events presented will be outlined in 2021. This plan remains subject to further recovery from the pandemic, an increase in international travel opportunities and all the appropriate health and safety assessments closer to the date.
Since the onset of the global pandemic, the 50 Best team has focused its resources on 50 Best for Recovery, providing tangible financial relief as well as creating and collating helpful resources for hospitality businesses as they emerge from the pandemic and seek actionable advice and support. The World’s 50 Best Recovery CIC, an independent non-profit body created to administer the funds raised, is distributing $1.24 million to restaurants and bars in need of support, as well as to a series of non-profit organisations supporting the sector, as outlined here.
If you would like to help the global hospitality industry in its recovery, stay tuned to our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter channels, where we will be sharing initiatives from around the world.
