William Drew, director of content for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants says: “Given the circumstances globally, we will put all our efforts into helping the restaurant sector to fight for its future, as well as assisting in the work that leading chefs and restaurateurs are themselves doing to help others.

“This year, 50 Best will focus its resources on supporting, connecting and uniting the global gastronomic community. It will use its global platform and network to design and promote meaningful initiatives that will bolster the restaurant sector.

“This decision has been reached as a result not only of current international travel restrictions and severe health concerns, but also in light of the horrific toll that the pandemic is taking on the restaurant and hospitality sectors worldwide, not to mention the suffering of millions of individuals at the hands of the virus.

“We stand united with the restaurant sector at this unprecedented time,” adds Drew. “Today we make a pledge that even though there will be no celebration of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants this year, we will act to support and defend restaurants today and in the future. We ask for the community to join us in the initiatives that will take the place of our planned event programme in Antwerp, Flanders this year.”