Owner and founder of BANK Bristol and Lapin, Dan O’Regan has been revealed as a finalist in this year’s Guild of Food Writers Awards. Named as one of three finalists in the Self-Published Online Food Writer Award category for his work published on Substack: Notes on a Napkin, Dan will now await the Awards presentation on Wednesday 3 June, set to be held at the Royal Institution in London.
Having published his first piece on Notes on a Napkin around the launch of Lapin at Wapping Wharf in May 2025, Dan’s candid, irreverent deep dives into the realities of restaurant life quickly became a hit with industry veterans and foodies alike. Articles have ranged from exposing industry truths and research-based angles to cultural comment and more personal pieces, spanning the breadth and depth of the hospitality trade that Dan works in every day.
Following this success, Dan has recently been revealed as a monthly columnist by Country Living magazine, and has also been announced as a new regular columnist by Bristol Life magazine. All Dan’s writing is based on the day-to-day running of the two restaurants he owns alongside executive chef and co-owner, Jack Briggs-Horan; BANK Bristol, a fire-led neighbourhood restaurant on Wells Road in Totterdown; and Lapin, a contemporary French restaurant in Cargo at Wapping Wharf.
Dan O’Regan commented: “I’m genuinely flattered to have received this nomination from the Guild of Food Writers, and to see my name alongside so many of the journalists and authors that I respect enormously. I started writing Notes on a Napkin for me, really – as a structured outlet for the restless, somewhat obsessive thoughts that swirl around your head as you launch and run restaurants – but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how well the articles have been received. I think my writing offers something a little different to what’s already out there. It’s honest, everything laid bare sort of stuff, based on a week of busy shifts and daily challenges. It’s really nice to be recognised by people who know what they’re talking about, so I can’t wait for the Awards night in June.”
Established in 1996, the Guild of Food Writers Awards recognise outstanding achievement in areas where food writers work and have influence. The Awards are held annually, and are the only awards judged entirely by professional food writers, editors and broadcasters.
