Held at Evolution in Battersea, London, the 2026 Publican Awards will take place later today (Wednesday 25 March), hosted by TV and radio star Rylan.
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Expert judges have travelled the length and breadth of the country, conducting site visits and research trips ahead of the prestigious ceremony.
New category
Celebrating the best operators across the hospitality sector with a wide range of categories, the awards, organised by The MA, have now been in operation for 35 years.
Some 17 titles are up for grabs this year, including Best Brewing Pub Company, Best Pub Employer, Best Partnership Pub Company, Best Community Operator, Best New Site and Best Drinks Offer.
In addition, 2026 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.
Follow The Morning Advertiser (The MA) on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn for live updates from the event and to see the winners announced in real time.
Great companies
The MA Editor Ed Bedington said: “These awards are highly contested, and we’ve got some great companies in the mix.
“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.
“We can’t wait to celebrate and honour the best of the industry at the sector’s biggest party.”
The awards are sponsored by Asahi, Atmosphere, Budweiser Brewing Group, Carlsberg Britvic, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Damm UK, Diageo, Funkin, Heineken UK, Illy, Molson Coors, Poppleston Allen, Sky Business, Square, 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 Brewing Co
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
Best Food Offer
Longbow Venues
Wadworth
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 Crafthouse 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
Cubitt House
Best Pub Brand/Concept
Box - Arc Inspirations
Roxy Leisure
King Pins
NEOS Hospitality
Best Pub Employer (501+ employees)
Chestnut
Butcombe 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
