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The Publican Awards 2010: Winners revealed

22nd April 2010

Star performers in the pub industry have been rewarded for their efforts at the Publican Awards.

The nation’s top licensees, pubs and companies picked up their trophies in a glamorous ceremony at the Grosvenor House in London, hosted by comedian Michael McIntyre last night.

Winners in the 19 categories included Ashley and Kelly McCarthy of Ye Old Sun Inn in Colton, North Yorkshire, who were named Publicans of the Year.

And it was a double success for the Wiremill near Lingfield in Surrey which was named Freehouse of the Year as well as winning the overall title of Pub of the Year.

In the HQ categories winners included Charles Wells Pub Company (Tenanted and Leased Pub of the Year with 200+ pubs) and Batemans (Regional Brewer of the Year).

Speaking to the audience of 1,500 guests Publican editor Caroline Nodder described pubs as being “unique in the place they hold within their communities.”

She added: “I take my hat off to all of you out there who are continuing not only to steer your businesses through a recession but help your customers through the hard times as well.”

All the winners and runners up are listed below:

Newcomer of the Year

Winner - Amanda Baker and Chris Lillitou, The Jolly Cricketers, Buckinghamshire

“Amanda and Chris have shown vision and flair to fulfil a business plan to physically develop the business, and to buy a freehold in only 12 months is a great achievement”

Other finalists:

• Andrew Stanworth - The Station Hotel, Lancashire

• Colin & Julie Stoneley - The Merry Harriers, Surrey

• Steven Thorpe - Henry’s, Cambridgeshire

• Timothy Bilton - The Butchers Arms Hepworth, West Yorkshire

• Yvonne Hamlett & Pam Farrell - The Peacock @ Oxhill, Warwickshire

Pub design of the Year

Winner: Freemasons Country Inn, Clitheroe, Lancashire

“Showed flair and creative innovation while remaining appropriate to the building and area”

Other finalists:

• The Avalon - Clapham, London

• The Bull - Westfield shopping centre, London

• The Eagle at Barrow - Nr Clitheroe, Lancashire

• The Embankment - Bedford, Bedfordshire

• The Red Lion at Water End - Leighton Buzzard, Hertfordshire

Customer Service Pub of the Year

Winner The Sun in the Wood, Newbury, Berkshire

“The winner has an attention to detail combined with a strong belief that each customer should leave having had an excellent time, a philosophy which is fed through to all staff"

Other finalists:

• The Station Hotel - Ashton-Under-Lyne, Lancashire (highly commended)

• Joshua Bradley, Gee Cross, Cheshire

• The Mark Cross Inn, Crowborough, East Sussex

• The Victory at Mersea, Mersea, Essex

• Ye Olde Punchbowl Inn, Bridgnorth, Shropshire

Music Pub of the Year

Winner - Riffs Bar, Swindon, Wiltshire

“Judges were impressed with the effort made to refocus the business on its core music offer while expanding their work in the community and building external events”

Other finalists:

• The Bay Horse, Huddersfield, Yorkshire

• The Coronation Tap, Clifton, Bristol

• The Horn, St Albans, Hertfordshire

• The Inn at Lathones, St Andrews, Fife

Barperson of the Year

Winner - Lisa Psaila Grape & Olive, Cardiff

“Lisa is someone who customers would want to spend time with. She brings a wealth of experience to Grape & Olive and judges believe she has a great future ahead of her in the pub trade”

Other finalists:

• Gareth Head, The Trading Post, Northamptonshire

• Glenn Whatman, Number 75, Kent

• Lisa Burgess, The Clarence, Lancashire

• Paul Roser, The Mark Cross Inn, East Sussex

• Susan Lane, The Famous Woolpack, Avon

Food Pub of the Year

Winner – The Stag at Offchurch, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire

“These two entrepreneurial young operators have turned around this country pub to create a good value premium offer where the customer is king. Locally sourced produce is the order of the day with an outstanding overall offer”

Other finalists:

• The Butchers Arms Hepworth, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire

• The Grouse Inn, Oldfield, West Yorkshire

• The Mill Race, Walford, Herefordshire

• The Water Witch, Lancaster, Lancashire

• The Wiremill, Nr Lingfield, Surrey

Community Pub of the Year

Winner – The Fir Tree, Stockport, Cheshire

“The pub might have been lost were it not for the strength of vision of the licensee and the community. They have raised a staggering amount for charity and are very focused on putting it back directly into the local community”

Other finalists:

• Grays Inn, Mastrick, Aberdeen (highly commended)

• The Fox, Birmingham, West Midlands

• The Reformation, Gallowstree Common, Oxfordshire

• The Station Hotel, Ashton-Under-Lyne, Lancashire

• The White Horse, Bedford, Bedfordshire

Managed Pub of the Year

Winners – Rashleigh Arms, St Austell, Cornwall

“Over a short period of time a difficult pub has been turned around and an identity has been stamped on the pub. The success of some of the pub’s initiatives has been adopted by head office and rolled out to other pubs”

Other finalists:

• Bar T’at Ale and Wine Bar, Ilkley, West Yorkshire

• The Commercial Inn, Risca, Gwent

• Duttons, Chester, Cheshire

• The Nightingale, Balham, London

• Yates’s, Portsmouth, Hampshire

Tenanted/leased Pub of the Year

Winner - The Whitmore Arms, Dorsett, essex

“An outstanding all-rounder that shows great passion, the Whitmore Arms had an excellent financial performance and a dedication to improve in all aspects”

Other finalists:

• The Victory at Mersea, Mersea, Essex (highly commended)

• The Bell Inn, Adderbury, Oxfordshire

• The Crown Inn, Martley, Worcestershire

• The Globe Inn, Chichester, West Sussex

• The White Horse, Bedford, Bedfordshire

Freehouse of the Year

Winner - The Wiremill, nr Lingfield, Surrey

“In a very strong category, the Wiremill demonstrated financial success, a clear investment strategy, commitment to staff training and above all enthusiasm for the trade”

Other finalists:

• Driftwood Spars, St Agnes, Cornwall

• The Mill Race, Walford, Herefordshire

• Red Lion Inn, Cricklade, Wiltshire

• The Red Lion Inn, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire

• Ye Old Sun Inn, Colton, North Yorkshire

Pub of the Year

The shortlist for Pub of the Year is made up from the winners of Managed Pub of the Year, Tenanted Pub of the Year and Freehouse of the Year.

Winner - The Wiremill, nr Lingfield, Surrey

Publican of the Year

Winner – Ashley & Kelly McCarthy, Ye Old Sun Inn, Colton, North Yorkshire

“Ashley and Kelly demonstrate a passion for the pub trade and a willingness to invest in all aspects of the business”

Other finalists:

• Mal Lamrani, Yates’s, Portsmouth, Hampshire (highly commended)

• John Bellinger, The Bell Inn, Adderbury, Oxfordshire

• John & Carol Cadwallader, The Pack Horse, Bury, Lancashire

• Nigel & Sue Anstead, The White Horse, Bedford, Bedfordshire

• Sandy Castle, The Fatling & Firkin, Hornchurch, Essex

Multiple operator of the Year (2-19 outlets)

Winner – Botanic Inns, Belfast

“A hugely well-respected and impressive business that shows real passion for the pub industry. It supports staff and managers and takes its responsibilities to local communities seriously. A worthy winner”

Other finalists:

• Peach Pub Company Oxfordshire (highly commended)

• The Grand Union Group, London

• Titanic Brewery, Staffordshire

Pub Company of the Year – Managed (20-99 outlets)

Winner - Capital Pub Company, London

“Capital impressed the judges with its non-hierarchical management style, diverse estate, quirky and innovative ideas, entrepreneurial flair and confident in-pub teams”

Other finalists:

• Geronimo Inns, London

• Maclay Inns, Alloa, Scotland

• St Austell Brewery, Cornwall

Pub Company of the Year – Managed (100+ outlets)

Winner - JD Wetherspoon, Hertfordshire

“2009 vindicated Wetherspoons’ strategy, with initiatives to drive sales in food and drink which did not detract from its commitment to responsible retailing or its focus on value and quality for its customers”

Other finalists:

• Fuller, Smith & Turner, London

• Town & City Pub Company, Bedfordshire

• Young & Co, London

Pub Company of the Year – Tenanted/Leased (20 -199 outlets)

Winner - Everards Brewery, Leicestershire

“A business that’s really on fire at the moment, with a fantastic financial performance, in-depth knowledge of its licensees, a firm set of values and a CSR policy that is part of the company culture”

Other finalists:

• George Bateman & Son, Lincolnshire

• Mitchell’s of Lancaster, Lancashire

• St Austell Brewery, Cornwall

Pub Company of the Year – Tenanted/Leased (200+ outlets)

Winners - Charles Wells Pub Company, Bedfordshire

“A traditional company that is modernising for the future, it is clearly in touch with its tenants, ensuring every pub has support levels to help them survive and thrive”

Other finalists:

• Marston’s Pub Company, Staffordshire (highly commended)

• Shepherd Neame, Kent

• Trust Inns, Lancashire

Corporate Social Responsibility Award

Winners – Jennings Brewery, Cumbria

“Jennings Brewery has supported not only its staff but the whole community following the disastrous floods of last year. The way Jennings has turned around a disaster of this scale is nothing short of miraculous”

Other finalists:

• Adnams, Suffolk

• Kurnia Group, Lincolnshire

• Punch Taverns, Staffordshire

Regional Brewer of the Year

George Bateman & Son, Lincolnshire

“Batemans demonstrated innovation in tenancy agreements and a new code of practice which shows it has taken the values of a regional brewer and set new standards”

Other finalists:

• Fuller, Smith & Turner, London

• Hook Norton Brewery, Oxfordshire

• Liberation Group, Jersey

• St Austell Brewery, Cornwall

• Wells & Young’s Brewing Company, Bedfordshire