Publican Awards 2019 finalists announced

The contenders for the Publican Awards 2019 are now under starters orders following the first round of judging.

The first stage has seen a strong line-up of pub companies shortlisted across a wide range of categories after a challenging initial round of judging.

Ed Bedington, editor of The Morning Advertiser​, which organises the awards, said: “The first round of judging has now been completed and we have our shortlist of finalists in the running to take home a leading industry award.

“The initial stages of judging are always challenging, whittling down a shortlist from a strong and impressive range of companies, but our judges have to be brutal and only put through the companies that make the final cut.

“This year has seen some very strong entries across all the categories, and I’m confident this year’s competition is going to be a close fight to the finish.

“The hard work for our judges – and for our finalists – is only just beginning with a number of stages yet to go, so I’d like to congratulate those businesses through, and wish them the best of luck moving forward.”

The Publican Awards, now more than a quarter of a century old, are the leading awards in the pubco sector, recognising and rewarding excellence across a range of areas from business success to employment practices.

Organised in association with Sky, the awards are also sponsored by Heineken UK, Molson Coors, Asahi, Britvic, Carls-berg UK, Coca-Cola European Partners, CPL Online, H-GEM, Kuehne + Nagel, Poppleston Allen and Fentimans.

The results of the competition will be revealed during the biggest event in the industry calendar at Battersea Evolution, London, on March 12, 2019. To book your place at this stand-out event, visit www.publicanawards.co.uk​ or contact Stevie Robinson on 01293 846508, or email her on fgrivr.ebovafba@jeoz.pbz​.

The shortlisted finalists are:

Best Accommodation Operator

• Coaching Inn Group
• Bed & Bars
• Fuller’s
• Cirrus Inns

Best Brewing Pub Company

• Titanic Brewery
• North Bar/North Brewing Co
• JW Lees
• Lincoln Green

Best Community Pub Operator

• Livelyhood Venues
• Stonegate Pub Company
• The Craft Union Pub Company
• Greene King

Best Drinks Offer

• New World Trading Company
• The Alchemist
• Stonegate Pub Company
• Arc Inspirations

Best Food Offer

• The Liberation Group
• Coaching Inn Group
• Seafood Pub Company
• Hippo Inns

Best Late Night Operator

• Night Operator
• The Deltic Group
• Stonegate Pub Company
• Tokyo Industries

Best Managed Pub Company (2-50 sites)

• New World Trading Company
• Arc Inspirations
• Oakman Inns
• Inn Collection Group

Best Managed Pub Company (51+ sites)

• Stonegate Pub Company
• Shepherd Neame

Best New Pub/Bar

• The Florist, Liverpool
• ATIK, Hull
• The Box, Leeds
• The Royal Foresters, Ascot
• The Coach Makers Arms, Marylebone, London
• Rumba, Congleton, Cheshire

Best Premium Food Offer

• Bel & The Dragon
• Cirrus Inns

Best Pub Brand/Concept

• Inception Group
• New World Trading Company
• Stonegate Pub Company
• Pizza, Pots & Pints

Pub Employer (501+ employees)

• Stonegate Pub Company
• Oakman Inns
• New World Trading Company
• Coaching Inn Group

Best Pub Employer (up to 500 employees)

• 16 Hospitality
• Livelyhood Group
• Inn Collection Group

Best Pub Operations Team

• The Deltic Group
• New World Trading Company
• Stonegate Pub Company
• Fuller’s

Best Sustainable Pub Company

• Greene King
• Darwin & Wallace
• Oakman Inns
• Liberation Group

Best Tenanted and Leased Pub Company

• Punch
• Ei Group
• Admiral Taverns