The Food & Drink Awards 2008: The winners

The inaugural winners of The Publican Food & Drink Awards​ have been announced at a ceremony in London.

The awards, launched this year, celebrate the best and most professional pub operators at a time when the industry is feeling the pressure from both the weight of regulation and the credit crunch.

The ceremony, held on Tuesday evening (November 11) at Battersea Evolution, was hosted by comedian Michael McIntyre.

The event culminated in 20 awards, with outstanding pubs, pub companies, licensees and staff rewarded for their remarkable achievements in pub retailing.

Caroline Nodder, editor of The Publican, said: "The event built on the success of the Pub Food Awards over the last few years, to recognise the achievements of a much wider range of pubs.

"While food plays an absolutely vital role in today's vibrant pub sector, we felt it was also important to recognise the range and quality of the drinks on offer in today's pubs. The Publican Food & Drink Awards ​has been launched as a celebration of that.

"The finalists are all pubs and publicans to be proud of, and there has never been a better time for the trade to celebrate that."

The winners are:

Cask Ale Pub of the Year​:

• Hare & Hounds, Bury, Greater Manchester​

Speciality Beer Pub of the Year​:

• The Royal Standard of England, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire​

Wine Pub of the Year​:

• The Butcher's Hook, Fulham, London​

Spirits Pub of the Year​:

• The Great Eastern, Brighton, East Sussex​

Drinks Pub of the Year​:

• Fence Gate Inn, Burnley, Lancashire​

Local Food Pub of the Year​:

• The Feathers Inn, Stocksfield, Northumberland​

Sunday Lunch Pub of the Year​:

• The Chaser Inn, Tonbridge, Kent​

Classic Food Pub of the Year​:

• Waggon & Horses, Halam, Nottinghamshire​

Gastro Pub of the Year​:

• The Sands End Pub & Dining Room, Sands End, London​

Food Pub of the Year​:

• The Whitmore Arms, Orsett, Essex​

Front of House Team of the Year​:

• The Whitmore Arms, Orsett, Essex​

Back of House Team of the Year​:

• The Inn @ West End, West End, Surrey​

Unsung Hero of the Year​:

• David Wallace, The Inn @ West End, West End, Surrey​

Chef of the Year​:

• Ashley McCarthy, Ye Old Sun Inn, Colton, Yorkshire​

HQ Drinks Champion of the Year​: Elton Mouna, Fuller, Smith & Turner

HQ Food Champion of the Year​: Rob Clayton, Merchant Inns

Retail Drinks Concept of the Year​: Smith & Jones, Barracuda Group

Retail Food Concept of the Year​: Carveries by The Orchid Group

Drinks Pub Company of the Year​:

• Barracuda Group​

Food Pub Company of the Year​:

• St Austell Brewery Co​