THE leading Irish hospitality influencers in London have been revealed this week with the release of the annual Murphia List.
For 2025 the annual list, which is published in partnership with Bord Bia – Ireland’s food board, boasts 66 people who are leading the charge in bars, restaurants and hospitality venues across the capital.
“We are delighted to support the Murphia List and celebrate the incredible talent emerging in London’s food and drink scene,” says Donal Denvir, General Manager of Bord Bia UK.
“It’s fantastic to see new faces making their mark and showcasing the best of Irish produce, highlighting their commitment to excellence and innovation within our industry,” he added.
“We look forward to continuing our support and witnessing the ongoing success of these talented individuals.”
There are 13 new faces on the list for this year, which features all sorts of industry professionals, from head chefs and pub owners to sommeliers and bakers.
Muireach Shankey is a new addition to the Murphia ListFour new names on the list work in the city’s top pubs and bars – they include Muireach Shankey from the Walthamstow pub The Raglan, and Paul McKenna, who is responsible for the restaurants going into Guinness’s new Old Brewers Yard project in Covent Garden.
Returning to the list is pub landlord Oisin Rogers, whose Soho pub The Devonshire sells more pints of Guinness than anyone else in the UK.
Women make up a third of this year’s Murphia List, wih new additions including Nobuku Okamura, who is the wine manager at the hugely popular Farm Shop wine bar in Mayfair, and Christine Walsh and Christina Blevins, who are head chefs of Michelin-starred restaurants Chishuru and Row on 5 respectively.
Returning names include chef Patrick Powell, who’s just about to open a new restaurant in Shoreditch, One Club Row, with another name on the list, GM Niall Harte.
Nobuko Okamura has joined the list for 2025Chef and restaurateur Anna Haugh of Myrtle has had a busy year opening her new Chelsea bar, The Wee Sister.
This year, she’s joined on the list by her nephew Dan Haugh who co-owns and manages Myrtle.
Hugh Corcoran, who is the chef and co-owner of The Yellow Bittern, a lunchtime-only restaurant in London’s Caledonian Road, also features on the list.
The 2025 publication was celebrated with a party held at five-star luxury hotel The Marylebone, run by the Irish-owned Doyle Collection, earlier this week.
“It’s great to see so many talented people together in one room,” says Hot Dinners co-founder Catherine Hanly.
“The Irish make a huge contribution to London’s hospitality scene at the highest levels and the run-up to St Patrick’s Day is the perfect time to celebrate that.”