Awards

Star reveals its 2015 pub awards winners

By Mike Berry

- Last updated on GMT

The winners from Star's annual awards
The winners from Star's annual awards

Related tags British pub awards Public house Food pub

Star Pubs & Bars recognised its most outstanding licensees from its 1,100-strong estate at its annual Star Awards last night.

Licensees from 83 pubs were recognised as finalists and winners in 15 categories ranging from family friendly pub to top sports bar.

The awards took place at the Titanic Hotel & Rum Warehouse in Liverpool and was hosted by celebrity chef and Star Pubs & Bars licensee, Simon Rimmer. He even got to award himself the Retailer of the Year gong for the Flying Pig & Lobster, which he set up with Roy Ellis and Neil McCloud.

John and Kimberly Calton and partner James Laffan of the Staith House, North Shields, which was named Food Pub of the Year in the PMA's​ Great British Pub Awards in September, won another accolade when the pub was named Star Pub of the Year.

The award recognised the trio’s amazing transformation of a run down pub serving no food into one of the country’s top food pubs in just two years.

Innovation

Chris Jowsey, Star Pubs & Bars trading director, said: “By focusing on retail standards, independent licensees are successfully challenging big branded outlets, winning customers looking for a more unique and individual experience.

“The Star Awards is one of the high points of our year and it was exciting to have so many brilliant licensees together at one event. Whilst the judges reported that they could see the impact of the increased investment that we and our licensees have made in our pubs, it is the innovation, resilience and ‘can do’ attitude of licensees that is ensuring the enduring popularity and the continued relevance of the great British pub.”

The full winners are:

Best Bar Team​ - Alex Cook, The Mill, Stokesley

Live Sports Venue​ - Weston Castle, the Queens Arms, Aintree

Team Training​ - Dee Allan and Lance Nuttall, the Woolpack, Burgess Hill

Heart of the Community​ - Pete Robinson and Ness Wilkinson, the Wheatsheaf, Woodplumpton

Famous for Food​ - Justin Sleath and Joe Cussens, Hare & Hounds, Bath

Most Family Friendly​ - Graham Anderson and Sharon Stanton, the Eastfield Inn, Bristol

Best Outdoor Pub​ - Colin Stuart and Kenny Watson, CookHouse Pub & Carvery, Prestatyn

Pint Perfection​ - David King, City Tavern, Newcastle

Best Cask Pub​ - Ross Evans, the Ship Tavern, Holborn, London

Marketing​ - Iain Pert and Gordon Gilhooley, the Jolly Botanist, Edinburgh

Best Use of Social Media​ - Darren and Kelly Lea, the Faulkner Arms, Hoole

Best Newcomer​ - Emily and Are Kolltveit, the Chandos Arms, Colindale

Retailer of the Year​ - Flying Pig & Lobster, The Elephant Pub and Bakehouse, Woolton

Responsible Retailer​ - Alan Frith, the William Hardwicke, Bognor Regis

Star Pub of the Year​ - John and Kimberley Calton and James Laffan, the Staith House, North Shields

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