Companies across the UK will now be gearing up for the next stages of the competition as judges begin to hit the road to put the businesses to the test.
Ed Bedington, editor of The Morning Advertiser, which organises the awards, said: “I’m delighted to be able to reveal our judges for the 2026 competition.
“These awards are highly contested, and we’ve got some great companies in the mix and I look forward, along with my fellow judges, to getting out on the road to see how these businesses shape up.
“The Publican Awards are the leading awards for the pub and bar sector and I’d like to wish all our finalists the very best of luck for the next stages of the competition, which are only going to get harder.”
Celebrating the best operators across the hospitality sector with a wide range of categories, the awards are now in their 35th year of operation.
Epic party
The winners will be revealed at the standout night in the industry’s calendar at a party of epic proportions on Wednesday 25 March 2026 at London Evolution, Battersea.
This year also sees the introduction of a new category, Best Experiential Operator, which not only covers the late night sector, but embraces the fast growing category of competitive socialising and those operators that are embracing the opportunity to provide outstanding events and experiences for their guests.
The awards are sponsored by Budweiser Brewing Group, Carlsberg Britvic, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Damm, Diageo, Heineken, Molson Coors and Thatchers.
The finalists in each categories are:
Best Accommodation Operator
Chickpea Group
Stay Original
Chestnut
Cheshire Cat Pubs and Inns
Heartwood Inns
Best Brewing Pub Company
Robinsons Brewery
Joule’s Brewery
Butcombe Group
Everards
Best Community Pub Operator
Proper Pubs
Craft Union Pub Company
Stonegate Group - LGBTQ+ Venues
Oak Taverns
Best Drinks Offer
Cheshire Cat Pubs and Inns
Ardent Pub Group
BrewDog
Best Food Offer
Longbow Venues
Wadworth
Cubitt House
Urban Pubs and Bars
Best Experiential Operator
NEOS Hospitality
Laine Pubs
Professional at Play
Incipio Group
Best Managed Pub Company (2-50 sites)
Coaching Inn Group
Parogon Group
St Austell Brewery
ETM Group
Upham Inns
Best Managed Pub Company (51+ sites)
Urban Pubs and Bars
McMullen and Sons
Mitchells & Butlers
Best New Site
Babble - Vicarious Pub Co and the Crafhouse Collective
The White Horse & Bower - Shepherd Neame
The Station House - Almond Pubs
Molly Mcs - Windmill Taverns
The Mitre Inn - Glastonbury Pubs
The Hoxton Hound - Brewhouse and Kitchen
Best Partnership Pub Company (501+ sites)
Punch Pubs & Co
Greene King
Craft Union Pub Company
Best Partnership Pub Company (up to 500 sites)
Laine Pubs
Wells & Co
Best Premium Food Offer
Anglian Country Inns
Ardent Pub Group
Parogon Group
Best Pub Brand/Concept
Box - Arc Inspirations
Roxy Leisure
King Pins
NEOS Hospitality
Best Pub Employer (501+ employees)
Chestnut
Butcombe Brewing Group
Signature Group
Best Pub Employer (up to 500 employees)
Longbow Venues
Barons Pub Company
Portobello Pubs and Bars
Cubitt House
Best Pub Operations Team
Craft Union Pub Company
Anglian Country Inns
Hickory’s Smokehouse
Proper Pubs
Best Sustainable Pub Company
St Austell Brewery
Wells & Co
Ardent Pub Group
