Bristol-based independent French restaurant, Lapin has been named Best Newcomer at the Trencherman’s Awards 2026. Collected by owner and founder, Dan O’Regan, and executive chef and co-owner, Jack Briggs-Horan, the trophy was presented at a prestigious awards ceremony on Monday 27 April, held at The Beach Club Restaurant on the Carbis Bay Estate in Cornwall.
This latest accolade for Lapin came following two rounds of judging, which combined both public voting and expert assessment. Capping off a hugely successful first year for the restaurant, which first opened its doors at Wapping Wharf in April 2025, the Award follows Lapin earning a place in The Good Food Guide and being named as one of the UK’s Top 100 Restaurants for 2026 by SquareMeal, as well as high praise from one of Britain’s most respected critics, Grace Dent, who picked Lapin out as one of her standout dining experiences of 2025.
Celebrating the region’s finest restaurants, hotels, pubs and chefs, the Trencherman’s Awards is widely regarded as the South West’s most important hospitality event of the year. Organisers received a record number of votes into this year’s competition, before Lapin took the top spot in the hotly contested Best Newcomer category with its contemporary take on classic French cooking.
Dan O’Regan, owner and founder of Lapin, commented: “We’re really proud to have won the Best Newcomer Award, having found ourselves up against some properly impressive new restaurants from across the region. It’s a great way to mark the end of an incredible first year for the restaurant. We have a small and committed team at Lapin, and everyone has played their part in us landing this trophy. When it comes to winning public votes, you can’t rely on having a good day when the inspector calls in – you need to deliver outstanding food, and warm attentive service, day in, day out. That’s what we’re all striving to do at Lapin, so it means a lot to be recognised by our diners and our peers in hospitality across the South West.”
Lapin is open on Tuesday from 5.30pm to 10pm, Wednesday to Saturday from 12pm to 3.30pm and 5.30pm to 10pm, and Sunday from 12pm to 8pm. Diners can book via www.lapinbristol.co.uk.
