Meet the Publican Awards nominees: Best Managed Pub Company (51+ sites), sponsored by CPL Training

Fuller, Smith & Turner​

Publican Awards regular Fuller's will be hoping to win the Best Managed Pub Company (51+ sites) award that it last won at the 2015 Publican Awards. The London-based operator's half-year financial results for the 26 weeks up to September 2016 indicate that the company's managed pub division had an impressive year with like-for-like sales for managed pubs and hotels growing by 3.4%, supported by further growth in food, with a rise in operating profit before exceptional items of 6%.

Stonegate Pub Company​

Stonegate is one of the pubcos leading the way at the 2017 Publican Awards; Best Managed Pub Company (51+ sites) is one of an impressive six awards​ that the operator behind the likes of Slug & Lettuce has been shortlisted for. The operator, which has 674 sites across Great Britain, expanded quite rapidly over the second half of 2016 by acquiring both 10 JDW pubs​ and Intertain​.

Shepherd Neame​

As well as being shortlisted for its estate of tenanted​ sites at the Publican Awards, Shepherd Neame is in the running for its managed pubs across south-east England. The company's chief executive Jonathan Neame said: "I would like to congratulate our pubs team on standing out in a highly competitive field. Our goal is to be a great British brewer and run the best pubs, providing our customers with a great and memorable experience. It is fantastic to have our work recognised at a national level by our peers."

Wadworth​

Brewery-operator Wadworth has invested​ in its managed pubs both in its hometown of Devizes, Wiltshire, and across its wider estate in the south-west during the course of 2016. The result is that the pub company has been shortlisted in this category and will have high hopes of success at the awards themselves at Battersea Evolution, London.

• For more information on The Publican Awards, visit its dedicated website​.​​