John Hoskins MW has had a career in the worlds of both hospitality and wine. Born into a family of hoteliers, John initially studied English literature, with the intention of becoming a teacher. However, the allure of the wine world eventually drew him into the family business. In 1994, John was the first person in the hospitality industry to pass the rigorous Master of Wine exams, doing so at the first attempt and winning the prestigious Bollinger Award for tasting. In the same year he founded Huntsbridge, a group of chef-run pub-restaurants, predominantly in Cambridgeshire with, unsurprisingly, a distinct emphasis on wine. The business became synonymous with great food and wine in a relaxed atmosphere, at an accessible price level. 10 years later, once the term gastro-pub had become a well-worn cliché, he sold the smaller businesses and concentrated on the site with the most potential, The Old Bridge in Huntingdon. With the addition of a wine shop, the inn's trade built and built. The post-covid surge provided the opportunity to sell it at its peak, in 2023. John now focusses only on wine. For the Institute of Masters of Wine he was for many years the Examination Chair, and he has now taken on the role of overseeing both the examination and the study programme. For IWSC he judges both in London and abroad.