The Food & Drink Awards 2008: The winners

12 November, 2008

The inaugural winners of The Publican Food & Drink Awards have been announced at a ceremony in London.

The awards, launched this year, celebrate the best and most professional pub operators at a time when the industry is feeling the pressure from both the weight of regulation and the credit crunch.

The ceremony, held on Tuesday evening (November 11) at Battersea Evolution, was hosted by comedian Michael McIntyre.

The event culminated in 20 awards, with outstanding pubs, pub companies, licensees and staff rewarded for their remarkable achievements in pub retailing.

Caroline Nodder, editor of The Publican, said: "The event built on the success of the Pub Food Awards over the last few years, to recognise the achievements of a much wider range of pubs.

"While food plays an absolutely vital role in today’s vibrant pub sector, we felt it was also important to recognise the range and quality of the drinks on offer in today’s pubs. The Publican Food & Drink Awards has been launched as a celebration of that.

"The finalists are all pubs and publicans to be proud of, and there has never been a better time for the trade to celebrate that."

The winners are:

Cask Ale Pub of the Year:

• Hare & Hounds, Bury, Greater Manchester

Speciality Beer Pub of the Year:

• The Royal Standard of England, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire

Wine Pub of the Year:

• The Butcher's Hook, Fulham, London

Spirits Pub of the Year:

• The Great Eastern, Brighton, East Sussex

Drinks Pub of the Year:

• Fence Gate Inn, Burnley, Lancashire

Local Food Pub of the Year:

• The Feathers Inn, Stocksfield, Northumberland

Sunday Lunch Pub of the Year:

• The Chaser Inn, Tonbridge, Kent

Classic Food Pub of the Year:

• Waggon & Horses, Halam, Nottinghamshire

Gastro Pub of the Year:

• The Sands End Pub & Dining Room, Sands End, London

Food Pub of the Year:

• The Whitmore Arms, Orsett, Essex

Front of House Team of the Year:

• The Whitmore Arms, Orsett, Essex

Back of House Team of the Year:

• The Inn @ West End, West End, Surrey

Unsung Hero of the Year:

• David Wallace, The Inn @ West End, West End, Surrey

Chef of the Year:

• Ashley McCarthy, Ye Old Sun Inn, Colton, Yorkshire

HQ Drinks Champion of the Year: Elton Mouna, Fuller, Smith & Turner

HQ Food Champion of the Year: Rob Clayton, Merchant Inns

Retail Drinks Concept of the Year: Smith & Jones, Barracuda Group

Retail Food Concept of the Year: Carveries by The Orchid Group

Drinks Pub Company of the Year:

• Barracuda Group

Food Pub Company of the Year:

• St Austell Brewery Co

  The Publican Food & Drink Awards 2008

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  Readers' comments

  • Kelly and Ashley McCarthy 13 November, 2008, 13:14

    We had an aboslutely fantastic night, winning Chef of the Year made it better but thanks to all the publican team.

  • Elaine Beckett 13 November, 2008, 11:23

    Congratulations to Margaret & Jim and their team at the Whitmore Arms, Gus at the Butchers Hook and Brian Whiting at the Chaser. Your awards recognise your passion and commitment to the pub business and we are very proud of you. From the Greene King Pub Partners team.

  • Dave M 13 November, 2008, 07:47

    Congratulations Andy and Lynn. Well deserved winners of the award. We are so lucky to have such a great couple running our local. Cant wait for the next beer festival but with 10 real ales on permanatly its like a year long festival!!!

  • Andrew Grant 12 November, 2008, 15:29

    1st class night all round. Hope to be back next year. Andrew & Lynn Grant Hare and Hounds

  • Security trev 12 November, 2008, 15:29

    congrats 2 all the winners! looks like one helluva nite! haha! party on dudes