- See the full list of this year’s Publican Awards winners here
The glittering ceremony took place last Wednesday (25 March) at Evolution London, where hundreds across the sector attended.
JW Lees boss William Lees Jones was awarded the Business Leader of the Year title. He thanked everyone at JW Lees and said he was honoured to be crowned the title.
Accepting the award on his behalf, his cousin Michael said: “We need everybody to stand up together to champion the pub and beer industry.
“[William] stands up and he is willing to be counted. We need everybody to stand up and tell the Government they are useless.”
Urban Pubs & Bars picked up two gongs on the night - Best Food Offer and Best Managed Pub Company (51+ sites).
Managing director Chris Hill said the company’s double success was down to “hard work, loving what we do and being brilliant at it”.
Delight shared
But Urban wasn’t the only business to taste success more than twice. St Austell Brewery was named Best Sustainable Pub Company and Best Managed Pub Company (2 to 50 sites).
CEO Kevin Georgel said he was incredibly proud of the team: “We’re an amazing brewery and so proud of our beers.
“Our business comes together in our managed pubs with our beers and our teams. I couldn’t be more proud.”
This year’s Best New Site award was presented to Molly Mc’s in Southwark, London. Founded Jack McElhinney said he was delighted to be recognised, telling the audience it had taken him more than six decades to get to where he is today.
His son, co-founder Johnny McElhinney added: “[Molly Mc’s} is a little bit of Ireland in London.
“It’s been a blast. We serve the best Guinness in London.”
North-west based Robinsons Brewery was named this year’s Best Brewing Pub Company.
Fantastic investment
On the win, managing director Ollie Robinson said he was “chuffed to bits”.
When asked about the company’s recent multi-million pound investment into its new brewery, director William Robinson added: “It’s a fantastic investment and Ollie and his team have done an amazing job delivering that project on time and in budget.”
Best Experiential Operator was presented to Incipio Group at the prestigious awards.
CEO Ed Devenport said: “I can’t believe we won, I’m literally shocked.
“As a group we always try and innovate and do different things at all of our venues but it is all down to our teams and they have all done an incredible job.”
Oak Taverns took the title of Best Community Pub Operator this year. Managing director Simon Collinson said: “We’re overjoyed, it’s been fantastic.”
