Black Bear Burger Named CODE Hospitality’s Happiest Place to Work 2026
We love winning burger awards.
But this one feels a little different.
Black Bear Burger has been named the overall winner of CODE Hospitality’s Happiest Places to Work 2026, recognising the people, leadership and culture behind our restaurants across London.
For us, that is something worth celebrating.
Great burgers matter. But the people making them, serving them and keeping everything moving matter even more.
What Is CODE Hospitality’s Happiest Places to Work Award?
CODE Hospitality’s Happiest Places to Work highlights hospitality businesses that are making a tangible difference to the people who work for them. The 2026 programme, run in partnership with Planday, recognised 25 standout businesses across the industry, with Black Bear Burger named the overall winner.
The judging panel highlighted Black Bear’s visible leadership, the trust placed in its teams, strong employee engagement and a clear focus on helping people progress.
You can read the full CODE Hospitality 2026 winners list here.
Why Was Black Bear Burger Named the Happiest Place to Work 2026?
Our approach has always been pretty simple: trust good people, give them room to grow and keep the people running the restaurants close to the decisions that affect them.
That starts from day one. New team members spend time learning what Black Bear is all about directly from founder Stew Down, helping everyone understand the culture behind the food as well as the job itself.
Managers are encouraged to share ideas, solve problems and take real ownership of their sites. Rather than every decision coming from head office, the people closest to the restaurants are trusted to help shape how they run.
There is also a strong focus on progression. Junior managers are supported as they move towards more senior roles, with opportunities to get involved in onboarding, training, sales and team culture alongside the day-to-day running of a restaurant.
A Team Culture Built as Black Bear Has Grown
Black Bear started with founders Stew and Liz Down selling burgers at Broadway Market on Saturdays. From that first stall, the business has grown into a London restaurant group with three bricks-and-mortar restaurants and six food hall or market locations.
CODE listed the Black Bear team at around 130 people in 2026. As the business has grown, keeping the culture close-knit and giving people a genuine voice has remained a priority.
That includes simple things that bring teams together as well as more structured development. Senior managers regularly meet to share ideas and solve problems, while team competitions give people across different roles the chance to contribute to what appears on the menu.
The aim is not to overcomplicate things. It is to build restaurants where people feel trusted, supported and proud of what they are creating together.
What Did CODE Hospitality Say About Black Bear Burger?
In its feature on the 2026 winner, CODE described Black Bear as a business that “keeps things simple, trusts its people and leads from the front”. It also highlighted the company’s unusually lean head-office structure and the autonomy given to site-level managers.
When the award was announced, Stew said it meant more to him personally than a best-burger award because it showed the business had built a great team and culture.
Read CODE’s full feature on Black Bear Burger here.
Looking for Hospitality Jobs in London?
If you are looking for restaurant or hospitality jobs in London, Black Bear Burger is a growing independent business with teams across the capital.
Whether you are starting out in hospitality, looking for your next management role or simply want to work somewhere that takes good food and good culture seriously, keep an eye on our current opportunities.
View current Black Bear Burger jobs or find your nearest Black Bear Burger location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Black Bear Burger a good place to work?
Black Bear Burger was named the overall winner of CODE Hospitality’s Happiest Places to Work 2026. The judges highlighted visible leadership, employee engagement, trust, career development and autonomy for restaurant managers.
Why did Black Bear Burger win Happiest Place to Work 2026?
CODE Hospitality highlighted Black Bear Burger’s engaged leadership, strong survey participation, trust in its people, succession planning and the responsibility given to site-level managers.
Does Black Bear Burger offer career progression?
Yes. Black Bear Burger supports junior managers as they progress into senior roles and gives team members opportunities to get involved in areas such as onboarding, training, sales and team culture.
How many people work at Black Bear Burger?
CODE Hospitality listed Black Bear Burger’s team size at around 130 people in 2026, working across its London restaurants and food hall locations.
Where does Black Bear Burger have restaurants?
Black Bear Burger has locations across London, including Brixton, Exmouth Market, Westfield, Paddington, Canary Wharf, Shoreditch, Camden, Victoria and Oxford Street. Find your nearest Black Bear Burger.
How can I apply for a job at Black Bear Burger?
Current recruitment opportunities are listed on the Black Bear Burger jobs page.
Fancy Joining the Team?
We are proud of the burgers we make.
We are even prouder of the people behind them.
If you want to be part of a growing London hospitality team that cares about great food, great service and creating a place people genuinely enjoy working, take a look at our latest opportunities.