The diversity, quality and consistency of its fresh food offers and strong customer satisfaction levels were also highlighted for praise at Urban, which is achieving £100m in annual turnover.
The London-based business, which has seen significant expansion in the past year including the acquisition of four Brunning & Price sites and Albion & East pubco, is the capital’s biggest independent pub operator, which each site having its own individual style and menu.
Big scale
This impressive operator, founded in 2014 by Nick Pring and Malcolm Heap and led by managing director Chris Hill for the past three years, serves food on a big scale, including 1.3m main meals a year and 160,000 Sunday roasts.
It’s four trading concepts Urban Pubs & Bars, City By Urban, Bat & Ball sports bars and Salt Yard Group, which has nine AA rosettes and served a million tapas dishes last year, also delivered its best-ever Christmas trading performance.
Urban’s talented team of head chefs is supported by a strong executive chef structure, led by head of food Peter Harbrecht-Parker, who joined Urban last year from Bill’s.
Food quality
Among other key achievements in the past year is its ongoing strong focus on internal progression, with 81 internal promotions.
Urban Pubs & Bars was also commended by the judges for the quality of its food offers, with everything made on-site from chips to tartare sauce, and simple but enticing menus complemented by exciting specials
The strength of its seasonally led and sustainability focused ingredient sourcing from some of London’s best suppliers and the ongoing success of its wedding business, pre-booked sales and impactful food marketing were also praised.
