Chef Anna Hansen, poet and playwright Dannie Abse, and Picasso biographer and historian John Richardson were delighted to feature in the 2012 New Year's Honours list.

Hansen, chef and author of The Modern Pantry published by Ebury was awarded an MBE for services to the Restaurant Industry.  A culinary prodigy with a fresh and contemporary take on food, her renowned restaurant in Clerkenwell, The Modern Pantry, is a sanctuary of bold flavours, colourful ingredients and herbs and spices from around the world that are expertly brought together to create fresh, original and captivating dishes.

Abse, author of works published by Hutchinson including The Presence, New Selected Poems and Two for Joy, was awarded a CBE for services to Poetry and Literature.  He has been honoured with numerous awards for his literature including Ted Hughes' award for New Work in Poetry, the Wilfred Owen Poetry Award and Welsh book of the year 2008 (for The Presence).

Finally Richardson, author of 4 volumes of A Life of Picasso, published by Vintage, was made a new sir in recognition of his services to art.