Queen's New Years Honours list: Chef Anna Hansen and hotelier Willy Bauer among hospitality members awarded

Hansen, along with catering consultant Vic Laws, director of AVL Consultancy and an ambassador at High Down prison's restaurant The Clink, received an MBE for their services to the restaurant industry and the hospitality sector respectively.

Responding to the news, Hansen, who opened her Clerkenwell restaurant following stints at The French Dining Room with Fergus Henderson and The Providores with Peter Gordon, said she was 'completely bowled over'.

"It is an incredible honour and I am truly delighted," she said.

OBE for Bauer​

German-born Bauer, current chairman of AB Hotels, a former general manager at The Savoy and co-founder of the Ark Foundation, was awarded an OBE for services to hospitality.

“I am extremely honoured and cannot even begin to express how much it means to me to be recognised in this way,” he said.

“When I look back at my 50-year career in this country, I feel that most of my success can be contributed to sheer hard work, total commitment and the love of our industry but also the fantastic people that have supported me over the years, especially my wife Zdenka who, as the marketing director, was an invaluable asset to me and the business for 25 years."

MBEs were also awarded to John Victor Williamson, the owner of Valley Hotel, Fivemiletown in Northern Ireland, who was recognised for services to tourism in Northern Ireland, Bajloor Rashid, restaurateur and president of the Bangladesh Caterers Association and Paul Gould, group executive head chef of the NEC Group's catering business Amadeus.

In all 984 people were awarded by the Queen in the New Years Honours list in recognition of their hard work, talents and support of their communities. This year, members of industry and the economy made up 12 per cent of the the total number of people awarded.