Harcourt Inns tastes success at Restaurant R200 Awards
The event, run by The Morning Advertiser’s sister publication Restaurant magazine, took place at Hawker House, Canada Water, south-east London and was hosted by comedian Russell Kane.
The group has a collection of pubs with dining rooms including Three Cranes in the City of London, the Coach in Clerkenwell, central London, and the Hero of Maida in Maida Vale, west London.
Owned by critically acclaimed chef Henry Harris and his business partner James McCullough, Harcourt Inns is a recently formed group, which opened the Coach and the Three Cranes late last year.
Laidback surroundings
The company’s intention is to rescue noteworthy sites and conserve them as destinations serving quality food in laidback surroundings.
Editor of Restaurant Stefan Chomka said: "With renowned chef Harris as a partner, Harcourt Inns has raised the bar for food-led pub groups this year and its three London sites have gutsy and brilliant cooking at their heart.
"It is a deserving winner of this award and I'm very much looking forward to seeing what the group's fourth pub - the Crown in Chiswick, west London - will offer when it opens early next year."
The group reopened the former Truscott Arms in Maida Vale and renamed it the Hero of Maida in May this year, and the pub aims to pair British seasonality with provincial French cooking, with menus changing daily in the manner of a French bistro.
Starters at the pub run from signature calves brains with black butter and capers, to asparagus and crab vinaigrette.
Menu options
Mains feature classics such as cuttlefish ratatouille; pan roast chicken with braised lettuce, morels and peas; as well as a Cheltenham beetroot and shallot tart, served with rocket and horseradish cream.
Desserts include crème caramel alongside springtime specials such as lemon posset and blueberry trifle.
The pub also has a selection of specials, including baked cheese, onion & bacon tart, sausage rolls and charcuterie plates, which sit alongside larger dishes such as fish soup with rouille, Gruyere and croutons, crisp salade bon santé, and chicken paillarde served with salad.
The winners in full:
Most Effective Restaurant Design - Kricket White City
Best New Scaleable Concept - Island Poke
Food-Led Pub Company of the Year - Harcourt Inns
Opening Of The Year - Market Halls Fulham
Best Family Restaurant Operator - Nando’s
Best Restaurant Drinks Offer - MEATliquor
Best Value Restaurant Operator, 20 sites and under - Mowgli
Best Value Restaurant Operator, over 20 sites - Tortilla
Best Restaurant Operator, 20 sites and under - Dishoom
Best Restaurant Operator, over 20 sites - Honest Burgers
Unsung Hero Award - Steve Holmes, CEO, Azzurri Group
