Pub Awards: We will always enjoy a special place in the hearts of consumers

It’s a real honour for us to be able to showcase and highlight some of the best operators in the industry and I take my hat off to all our finalists and winners this year, you’re an inspiration to everyone in the trade.

We need to celebrate your successes and encourage more people to visit great pubs across the country.

Pubs are an integral part of British society, and while we all face increasingly stiff competition in the leisure sector, we will always enjoy a special place in the hearts of consumers throughout the UK.

But, of course, we can’t sit still – we need to continue to ensure we remain relevant to the next generation of customers coming through.

The good news is that interest in food and drink, and the experience of enjoying them with friends, is something that is showing no sign of changing – and where better to enjoy that experience than down your local pub.

These awards give you, and the entire trade something to shout about, something to prove that the great British pub is more than just an institution, it’s a thriving, exciting and most importantly, hugely enjoyable fixture in the social landscape.

We need to encourage the next generation of customers to re-evaluate the pub, and a big part of that is by being able to recognise and highlight award-winning venues across the country.

We realise that yours is a challenging job, you’re not just running a pub, you’re running a business and with that comes a wide range of responsibilities. You’re an employer, a social hub, an important part of the fabric of the communities you operate in – this is more than just a job.

So, congratulations, you’re doing some great work and long may we continue to celebrate that.