Meet the finalists: Best Pub Employer

Stay Original Company 

Named among the 75 best companies to work for in the south west of England in 2020, the Stay Original Company owns and operates a portfolio of boutique hotels and inns across what is historically one of the UK's foremost tourism hotspots.

After acquiring and renovating its first site in Wedmore, Somerset, in 2011, the Stay Original Company has since added sites in Somerton, Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire, Shaftesbury and Dorchester – both Dorset.  

Greene King 

Suffolk-based Greene King was founded in 1799 and currently employs around 40,000 people across 2,900 sites spanning England, Wales and Scotland – of which in the region of 1,150 are tenanted, leased and franchised pubs.   

North Brewing Company 

Founded in 2015, North Brewing Company has picked up the Publican Awards’ Best Brewing Pub Company on two occasions – in 2017 and 2018 – and on top of reaching the category’s final, again, has been shortlisted for the Best Pub Employer award at this year’s gongs. 

In addition to collaborating with breweries across the UK, Europe and as far afield as the United States, North operates a 200-capacity tap room in Leeds in addition to its flagship North Bar – which became known as the “first craft beer bar in Britain” when it opened in 1997. 

The Inn Collection Group 

Based in the north east, the Inn Collection Group's seemingly ever-growing portfolio currently comprises 19 sites in coastal, country, town, and city locations across County Durham, the Lake District, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear and Yorkshire.

Far from a stranger to the Publican Awards, the Inn Collection Group has won the Best Pub Employer (up to 500 people) prize for two years on the spin and prides itself on creating sites to eat, drink, sleep, and explore from. 

Brewhouse & Kitchen

Founded in 2013, Brewhouse & Kitchen operates a nationwide estate of brewpubs – with each boasting its own microbrewery on site.  

The operator is also a finalist in this year’s Best Managed Pub Operator category and was a finalist in three categories at the 2020 Publican Awards – for Best Brewing Pub Company, Best Managed Pub Company (2-50 employees) and Best Pub Employer (up to 500 employees).

• Check out the full list of finalists at the 2021 Publican Awards​​​​ ​​here​​​​​​​​