Lowe’s on Carter Street has been announced as a finalist for the Hospitality, Leisure & Tourism Award at the 2026 Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards, sponsored by Wilkinson Collective.

Opened in Uttoxeter in April 2023 by Head Chef George Lowe, whose career spans Michelin-starred kitchens and international private chef work, Lowe’s on Carter Street has become one of Staffordshire’s most recognised independent restaurants in just two years. It holds a perfect 5.0 on Google, ranks in the top 0.2% of OpenTable restaurants nationally, and was named one of the Top 100 Restaurants in the UK for 2025, the only Staffordshire entry on the list.

The numbers behind the acclaim are equally impressive, with labour costs running at around 25% against a national hospitality average of 40% and repeat business sitting 34% above industry norms. Community is central to the Lowe’s identity: every Christmas Eve for three years, the team has delivered at least 600 free three-course meals to isolated, elderly or struggling residents across Uttoxeter.

Stuart Elford, Chief Executive of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, said: “Lowe’s on Carter Street has put Staffordshire on the national restaurant map, and it has done it in two years. A perfect Google score, a top 100 ranking, and the only Staffordshire entry on that list. The commercial discipline behind the accolades is equally impressive, and the Christmas Eve community meals are the kind of initiative that defines what a truly responsible hospitality business looks like. We are very proud to have them as a finalist.”

The winners will be revealed at a gala awards ceremony at Uttoxeter Racecourse on Thursday 9 July 2026, followed by The After Party, a late-night celebration for finalists, winners and partners.

To find out more about the 2026 Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards, visit staffordshirechambers.co.uk/awards.