Bel & The Dragon wins Premium Food gong at 2017 Publican Awards
Nearly 1,400 people attended Battersea Evolution in London last night for the 26th annual awards, as TV presenter Jonathan Ross handed out prizes across 20 categories, including Best Food Offer (Cheshire Cat Pubs & Bars), Best Accommodation Operator (The Coaching Inn Group), and Best Community Pub Operator (Oakman Inns & Restaurants).
Bel & The Dragon – the seven-strong restaurant, pub and rooms group across southern England ‒ led the food-led charge as it won the Premium Food Offer prize, commended for its high-end twists on pub classics, such as roasted suckling pig, seared Lyme Bay scallops, Cornish lemon sole, and Duck shepherd's pie.
But The New World Trading Company dominated the night, becoming the first awards entrant to win in every category it entered.
Its wins were for Best New Site, Best Operations Team, Best Large Employer, Best Drinks Offer, Best Brand/Concept and Best Small Managed Pub.
Stephen Goodyear, former chief executive of London pub group Young's, won Outstanding Industry Contribution.
Ed Bedington, editor of The Morning Advertiser, which organises the awards, said: “We’ve had multiple winners in the past, but I don’t think anyone’s ever managed to take home more than three, so for New World to sweep the board with six is quite an achievement.
“With individual judging panels all declaring the north-west-based business best in class, this is a company that is certainly firing on all cylinders and I’d like to congratulate them on their success.
“In fact, I’d like to praise all our finalists and winners from the event – this is a very challenging competition, which we make no apology for, and it’s no mean feat to make it through to the night itself.
“Winning is the icing on the cake, but it’s great to see that there are so many great operators out there, delivering such excellent experiences to customers throughout the hospitality sector.”
The full list of winners
Best Accommodation Operator, sponsored by Hospitality Gem: The Coaching Inn Group
Best Brewing Pub Company, sponsored by MCA: North Bar/North Brewing Co
Best Community Pub Operator, sponsored by Britvic: Oakman Inns & Restaurants
Best Drinks Offer, sponsored by Coca-Cola European Partners: New World Trading Company
Best Value Food Offer, sponsored by The Bar & Pub Show: Tavistock Hospitality
Best Food Offer, sponsored by CGA Strategy: Cheshire Cat Pubs & Bars
Best Premium Food Offer, sponsored by McCain: Bel & The Dragon
Best Managed Pub Company (2-50 sites), sponsored by Molson Coors: New World Trading Company
Best Managed Pub Company (51+ sites), sponsored by CPL Training: Stonegate Pub Company
Best New Pub/Bar, sponsored by Heineken: The Club House, Liverpool (New World Trading Company)
Best Pub Operations Team, sponsored by Farm Frites: New World Trading Company
Best Pub Brand/Concept, sponsored by Asahi: The Botanist (New World Trading Company)
Best Pub Employer (1-499 employees), sponsored by Sky: The Coaching Inn Group
Best Pub Employer (500+ employees), sponsored by ABInBev: New World Trading Company
Best Late Night Operator, sponsored by Jagermeister: Stonegate Pub Company
Best Tenanted/Leased Pub Company (up to 200 sites), sponsored by Sky: Everards
Best Tenanted/Leased Pub Company (201+ sites), sponsored by Kuehne & Nagel: Greene King Pub Partners
Responsible Retailer of the Year, sponsored by DrinkAware: Novus Leisure
Business leader of the Year, sponsored by Poppleston Allen: Peter Borg-Neal
Outstanding Industry Contribution, sponsored by The Morning Advertiser: Stephen Goodyear
