DiJoN Bascombe, a self-taught chef who opened Hampstead's first gluten-free pizza hatch, has been named a rising star in the UK hospitality industry. He received the award at the 2026 Be Inclusive Hospitality (BIH) Spotlight Awards, held on October 12 at Quaglino's in London.
A mission to change gluten-free perceptions
Bascombe founded Good F'ing Pizza after running pizza stalls and pop-ups across London. In October 2025, he opened a permanent gluten-free pizza hatch in Hampstead Community Market, operating from a 9 square metre space. The business expanded into a second unit within six months, and by May 2026, it had doubled in size, moving into an adjacent unit.
The cafe sells gluten-free pastries and cakes sourced from top bakeries during the day, then fires up the pizza oven in the evenings. Most orders are takeaways, but the market offers an outdoor seating area at the back for evening customers.
Coeliac-safe brand recognised by industry panel
Bascombe's work building a coeliac-safe, gluten-free brand for diners with food intolerances was recognised by an independent panel of hospitality leaders and experts. He founded the business with a £6,000 Crowdfunder, which reached its target within 24 hours. On the Crowdfunder page, he wrote: "My name is Dijon and I'm on a mission to change the perception of gluten free food by creating amazing food and safe spaces for the gf community to feel included and not just an after thought."
Awards celebrate Black and ethnic minority talent
The 2026 BIH Spotlight Awards, now in their fifth year, celebrate Black and ethnic minority talent across the UK's hospitality industry. The ceremony at Quaglino's brought together 300 industry professionals honouring achievements across 16 categories, including chefs, restaurants, drinks professionals, writers, and brands.
Lorraine Copes, founder and chief executive of Be Inclusive Hospitality, said: "Every year, these awards bring new stories, journeys and ambitions from 60 finalists. What has remained constant over the past five years is the exhilaration, celebration and connections forged between our community and partners. Recognition and visibility for deserving people and businesses matter more than ever. Hospitality is a tough industry to navigate, and my hope is that these awards continue to give our finalists the encouragement and momentum to keep moving forward."
Copes founded the award to address the underrepresentation of ethnic minority talent in leadership roles throughout hospitality. The awards celebrate talent at all stages, from emerging and independent operators to established experts and businesses.
