Licensees David Heyes and Gillian Heyes of the Garsdale Country Inn & Restaurant in Bury, Lancashire have been named the British Institute of Innkeeping Licensees of the Year.
The couple picked up the prestigious award from comedian Lenny Henry at last night's glittering Publican Awards ceremony which took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London's Park Lane.
Mr and Mrs Heyes were finalists in last year's awards and triumphed this year thanks to what the judges called their "set of systems and controls which would not be out of place in an exceptionally well-run big company".
The judges said the couple were "a text-book example of pub professionalism".
Gathering for the awards, known as the "Oscars" of the pub trade, licensees and pub operators celebrated their success despite a year that has seen the industry hit by continuing confusion about licensing reform and increased bureaucracy.
Other winners in the 18 categories included former S&N food-led brand Chef & Brewer which bagged the award for Best Retail Brand. The chain, which now has 138 sites across the UK was bought by Spirit Group at the end of 2003.
Best tenanted pub company (100+ outlets) went to the 7,400-strong Punch Pub Company. The company is about to launch a new flexible tenancy agreement, which it says will "revolutionise" its relationship with its tenants.
The top managed (100+ outlet) operator went to London brewer Fuller's.
Other winners included Waxy O'Connor's owner Glendola Leisure which won Pub Company of the Year (10-99 outlets) and George Gale & Co, the Hampshire brewer, which won Pub Company of the Year (Tenanted 10-99).
The winners in full
- Pub company of the year - Managed (100+ outlet) Sponsored by United Biscuits Foodservice
- Winner: Fuller, Smith and Turner
- Highly Commended: Pathfinder Pubs
Pub Company of the Year - Tenanted (100+ outlets) Sponsored by Marstons Pedigree
Winner: Punch Pub Company
Pub Company of the Year - Managed (10-99 outlets) Sponsored by Walkers Snacks
Winner: Glendola Leisure, London
Highly Commended: Hardys and Hansons, Nottingham and Shepherd Neame, Kent
Pub Company of the Year - Tenanted (10-99 outlets)
Winner: George Gale & Co, Hampshire
Retail Brand of the Year Sponsored by Tradeteam
Winner: Chef and Brewer, Spirit Group
Regional Brewer of the Year Sponsored by Planters
Winner: Hardys and Hansons, Nottingham
Entrepreneurial Business of the Year Sponsored by Pubmaster
Winner: Saltire Taverns
Highly commended: Living Ventures
Freehouse of the Year Sponsored by Christie & Co
Winner: The Masons Arms, Devon
Highly Commended: The Inn at Farnborough, Banbury
Family Pub of the Year Sponsored by Britvic
Winner: The Eyre Arms, Derbyshire
Music Pub of the Year Sponsored by The Performing Rights Society
Winner: Bay Horse, Huddersfield
Highly Commended: The Witchwood, Ashton Under Lyne
Catering Pub of the Year Sponsored by JohnsonDiversey
Winner: The Tollgate Inn, Wiltshire
Business Woman of the Year Sponsored by Booker
Winner: Mrs Elizabeth Grayshon, owner of the Red Lion, Skipton
Customer Service Pub of the Year Sponsored by Spirit Group
Winner: The Sarah Moore, Southend
Bar Person of the Year Sponsored by Carling
Winner: Ms Leanne Barlow, The Witchwood, Ashton under Lyne
Highly Commended: Ms Sally Downing, SkyRack, Leeds
Marketing Pub of the Year Sponsored by Cashbox ATM Systems
Winner: The Witchwood, Ashton under Lyne
Highly Commended: Famous Three Kings, London
Pub Design of the Year Sponsored by Mitchells and Butlers
Winner: The Castle, Nottingham
Newcomer of the Year Sponsored by Greene King
Winner: Mr Martin Meijer, The Forester, Hampshire
The British Institute of Innkeeping - Licensee of the year Sponsored by Matthew Clarke
National Winner: Mr David Heyes and Mrs Gillian Heyes, The Garsdale Country Inn & Restaurant.