And The Publican Awards 2009 winners are...
25 March, 2009
Top pubs and companies pick up prizes at glamorous ceremony
The best in the business have been rewarded for their achievements at industry ‘Oscars’ The Publican Awards.
Top performing licensees and pub companies picked up their trophies in front of more than 1,500 guests at a ceremony at the Grosvenor House in Central London, hosted by legendary entertainer Des O’Connor.
Winners of the 20 awards included Philip Davison, licensee of the Sun in the Wood, Newbury, Berkshire, who picked up the prestigious title of BII Licensee of the Year.
It was also a night to remember for the Royal Standard of England in Beaconsfield, Bucks, which won both Freehouse of the Year and Pub of the Year.
Meanwhile, Charles Wells won Pub Company of the Year tenanted/leased (200+ outlets) and St Austell scooped Regional Brewer of the Year.
Speaking at the event Publican editor Caroline Nodder said: “We are determined to keep pushing this positive message out there. It is all too easy to become despondent when all you hear is bad news.
“But I am here to tell you that reports of the death of the British pub have been greatly exaggerated! Pubs are alive and kicking.
"And to those who don’t believe me I say get out there and visit some of our Publican Awards finalists for yourself".
The Winners are:
Newcomer of the Year - Sponsored by Magners Pear Cider
WINNER: Stephanie Todd, Atlantic Inn, Scilly Isles
Pub Design of the Year - Sponsored by Budweiser Budvar UK
WINNER: The Akeman, Tring, Hertfordshire
Customer Service Pub of the Year - Sponsored by Call System Technology
WINNER: The Mark Cross Inn, Crowborough, Sussex
Music Pub of the Year - Sponsored by PRS for Music
WINNER: The Inn at Lathones, Lathones, Fife
Bar Person of the Year - Sponsored by Ocean Spray
WINNER: Marta Sidorska, Modo, Liverpool
Food Pub of the Year - Sponsored by Brakes
WINNER: The Mill Race, Walford, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire
Community Pub of the Year - Sponsored by Booker
WINNER: The Nightingale, Balham, South London
Managed Pub of the Year - Sponsored by Bar Zone
WINNER: The Fir Tree, Stockport
Tenanted Pub of the Year - Sponsored by Enjoy England
WINNER: The White Horse, Bedford, Bedfordshire
Freehouse of the Year - Sponsored by Christie + Co
WINNER: The Royal Standard of England, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
Pub of the Year - Sponsored by Proud of Pubs
WINNER: The Royal Standard of England, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
Multiple Operator of the Year – 2-19 Outlets - Sponsored by Bulmers
WINNER: Peach Pub Company, Deddington, Oxfordshire
Retail Concept of the Year - Sponsored by WKD
WINNER: Tiger Tiger by Novus Leisure
Pub Company of the Year – Managed 20-99 outlets - Sponsored by Walkers
WINNER: Geronimo Inns, Wandsworth, London
Pub Company of the Year - Managed 100+ outlets - Sponsored by CPL Training
WINNER: Young & Co, Wandsworth, London
Pub Company of the Year – Tenanted / Leased 20-199 outlets - Sponsored by Squeeze
WINNER: George Bateman & Son, Wainfleet, Lincolnshire
Pub Company of the Year – Tenanted / Leased 200+ outlets - Sponsored by Mediatheme
WINNER: Charles Wells Pub Company, Bedford, Bedfordshire
Regional Brewer of the Year - Sponsored by Trade Team
WINNER: St Austell Brewery, St Austell, Cornwall
Corporate Social Responsibility - Sponsored by Calor
WINNER: Adnams, Southwold, Suffolk
BII Licensee of the Year - Sponsored by Matthew Clark
WINNER: Philip Davison FBII, The Sun in the Wood, Ashmore Green, Berkshire
See the photos from the night below. Want your photos from the night on the slideshow? Email your best ones to to rolande@thepublican.com.
See tweets from The Publican Awards here.
Check back on thepublican.com for videos, a photo gallery and the Winners' brochure.
The Publican Awards 2009 photo slideshow, more to follow...
Watch Muireann Bolger's video of the The Publican Awards night 2009
The Publican 2009 winners' brochure
Readers' comments
Tilly, I am curiouse, who do you think shouldhave been there?
Well done to all the Winners. I went with Riffs Bar who were finalist for Music Pub of the Year, we will be back next year to Win this time. A great night was had by all.
Well done guys, unfortunately the pubco I work for were not nominated. Perhaps next year we we get our act together, hope we are still around. I could do with a good night out.
Thankyou to all at The Publican for an amazing evening it was inspirational seeing 1400 people that love and have hope for our trade. I was lucky enough to win Managed house of the year and would like to congratulate all the other nominees in this category especially Sandy at The Fatling. Also a big Thankyou to TCG and Mick Walsh my BDM who unlike many in this trade let me and my colleagues within TCG MANAGE our businesses. Congratulations to every winner and nominee and lets look forward to next year with hope for the trade and pride in what we have achieved. THANKYOU AGAIN Tony
Strange that the most succesful pub company in the uk didn't get a mention. Hmmmmmm..........
How about having links to the pubs/companies with Web sites? That would be a convenience most appreciated. Cheers!
congratulations to all and as Caroline says the pub is alive and kicking. Get it right and you will survive and prosper, get it wrong and you won't. No different from any other business. Ken Nason
congradulations to all who won, and the publican for putting it on. But, could it be possible for the publican to host the worst award for the pubcos of 2009. Please, pretty please.You would have a great turn out from us licensees.
Intereresting to see the absence of the \"Big Two", but then again if they were mentioned it would be a sham. Congradulationst to all who win awards.
Well done to all the winners and those who took part and well done and thanks to the Publican for hosting the event for our great trade. It's not all bad news out there, lot's to celebrate.