2017 Publican Awards finalists announced

New World Trading Company will be looking to make it two successful years in a row in both the Best Employer category and Best Managed Pub Company (2-50 sites) award after taking away those two awards at the 2016 Publican Awards​. The company has also been shortlisted for Best Pub Operations Team, Best New Pub/Bar, Best Drinks Offer and the Best Pub Brand/Concept.

The Best Pub Brand/Concept award and Best Pub Employer (500+ employees) will see NWTC go up against Stonegate Pub Company, which has also been shortlisted in the Best Late Night Operator, Best Managed Pub Company (51+ sites), Best Value Food Offer and Responsible Retailer of the Year categories.

A total of 73 finalists have been shortlisted in the 18 categories for the awards, which will take place at Battersea Evolution in London on 14 March.

All of those finalists will now go through the rigorous judging process, which includes headquarter and site visits by judges, mystery shopper visits, tenant tracker research and also a final-stage 'Dragon’s Den' style grilling from a panel of leading industry experts.

Editor of The Morning Advertiser​, Ed Bedington, said: "We had record entries into the awards this year and as such the competition has been particularly difficult. Our shortlisted finalists are deservedly in the running for the industry’s top awards and my commiserations to those that missed out on a shortlisting this year.

"For our finalists however, the hard work is now beginning as the next stages of judging kicks in, culminating in judgement day early next year when they face the judging panels in London. I’m looking forward to getting out into the trade and seeing what makes our potential winners tick."

The finalists

Best Accommodation Operator, sponsored by HospitalityGem​

• Brakspear
• Provenance Inns & Hotels
• The Coaching Inn Group
• The Inn Collection Group

Best Brewing Pub Company​

• North Bar
• Dark Star Brewing
• Laine Pub Company

Best Community Pub Operator, sponsored by Britvic​

• Admiral Taverns
• Cornerstone Inns
• Oakman Inns & Restaurants
• The Coaching Inn Group

Best Late Night Operator​

• The Deltic Group
• Novus Leisure
• Red Door
• Stonegate Pub Company

Best Tenanted/Leased Pub Company (Up to 200 sites), sponsored by Sky​

• Everards Brewery
• Hook Norton Brewery Company

Best Tenanted/Leased Pub Company (201+ sites), sponsored by Kuehne & Nagel​

• Greene King Pub Partners
• Punch Taverns
• Shepherd Neame
• Star Pubs & Bars

Best Managed Pub Company (2 to 50 sites), sponsored by Molson Coors​

• Cheshire Cat Pubs & Bars
• Hydes Brewery
• New World Trading Company
• Red Mist Leisure
• St Austell Brewery

Best Managed Pub Company (51+ sites), sponsored by CPL Training​

• Fuller, Smith & Turner
• Stonegate Pub Company
• Shepherd Neame
• Wadworth

Best Pub Employer (1-499 employees), Sky​

• Bel & The Dragon
• Cornerstone Inns
• The Coaching Inn Group
• The Draft House

Best Pub Employer (500+ employees)​

• Beds & Bars
• New World Trading Company
• Oakman Inns & Restaurants
• Stonegate Pub Company

Best Pub Operations Team, sponsored by Farm Frites​

• Beds & Bars
• New World Trading Company
• Sports Bar & Grill
• Star Pubs & Bars

Best Value Food Offer​

• Pub People Company
• Sizzling Pub Company (Mitchells & Butlers)
• Tavistock Hospitality (Sonnet 43 Brew House)
• Stonegate Pub Company

Best Food Offer​

• Brunning & Price
• Cheshire Cat Pubs & Bars
• Wadworth

Best Premium Food Offer, sponsored by McCain​

• Anglian Country Inns
• ETM Group
• The White Brasserie Company
• The Seafood Pub Company
• Bel & The Dragon

Best Pub Brand/Concept, sponsored by Miller Brands​

• BrewDog
• New World Trading Company
• Sports Bar & Grill
• Stonegate Pub Company
• The Draft House

Best New Pub/Bar, sponsored by Heineken​

• Arc Inspirations - Banyan Bar & Kitchen, Leeds
• Brakspear - The Sheep
• Cheshire Cat Pubs & Bars - The Fitzherbert Arms
• Grand Union Group - Trade Union
• New World Trading Company - The Club House
• The Alchemist, Birmingham

Best Drinks Offer, sponsored by Coca-Cola Enterprises​

• Be At One Cocktail Bar
• BrewDog
• New World Trading Company
• Pivovar 
• The Draft House

Responsible Retailer of the Year, sponsored by DrinkAware​

• The Deltic Group
• Novus Leisure
• Stonegate Pub Company