A Night With THe Stars at Shed 10

What a treat to witness the build-up to the 24th Lewisham Awards. The energy at Shed 10 was of excitement. Right there at the welcome, a very familiar label: ANTHEA Non-Alcoholic Beverages.

For those new to this celebrated evening, the Lewisham Awards are the Oscars of the Auckland hospitality scene. Each year, the awards shine a light on the very best talent in food and beverage — the people who work hard, plan meticulously, and deliver the absolute finest experiences here in Tāmaki Makaurau. Teams, industry leaders, rising talent, and hospo legends all get their moment in the spotlight.

It was a genuine thrill to see ANTHEA served as both the welcome drink and the afterparty pour. ANTHEA Blush and Blanc drew equal measures of curiosity and delight — bar staff fielded warm reactions from guests seeking a non-alcoholic option, while returning Lewisham regulars were excited to welcome us back for our second consecutive year. Inclusion, it turns out, is something the Auckland hospo community deeply values.

"Guests asking bar staff for a non-alcoholic option were delighted — and others were thrilled to see us back for our second year."

The Lewisham’s are led by Dan Sullivan and backed by the talented organising committee and members of the Restaurant Association of New Zealand. Their leadership plays a vital role in nurturing the Auckland hospitality industry's ability to delight customers and keep them coming back for more. It is a celebration not just of accolades, but of the collective craft that defines this city's dining culture.

For ANTHEA, being part of an event that champions excellence and inclusion feels entirely right. The hospitality industry is at its best when it welcomes every guest fully — and non-alcoholic options that are genuinely exciting are a big part of making that happen.

We're grateful to have been welcomed along and already looking ahead. Next year marks the 25th Lewisham Awards — a landmark anniversary. The question on everyone's lips: what theme could possibly do justice to such a milestone occasion?

written by Emma Williamson

Want to read more? View the full April & May issue of the ANTHEA Magazine here