The Publican Food & Drink Awards 2009: And the winners are...
4 November, 2009
Sixteen awards handed out at glitzy ceremony
The winners of this year’s Publican Food & Drink Awards have been revealed during a glittering ceremony at a top Central London hotel.
Sixteen awards were handed out to the pubs and pub companies that in the last 12 months have thrived, despite the economic climate.
The black tie event, at Park Lane’s Intercontinental Hotel, was hosted by comedian Dominic Holland.
Caroline Nodder, editor of The Publican said: "All our winners and finalists are true ambassadors for the pub industry. They have drive, dedication and professionalism by the bucketload and are truly an inspiration to us all.
"Proof, if needed, that pubs are alive and well and leading the hospitality sector forward."
The winners are:
Beer Range Pub of the Year
Pivo Café Bar, York
Chef of the Year
Alex Pallatt, Fox & Hounds, Eggesford, Devon
Classic Food Pub of the Year
The Royal Standard of England, Beaconsfield, Bucks
Drinks Pub of the Year
The Royal Standard of England, Beaconsfield, Bucks
Food Pub of the Year
The Somerset Arms, Warminster, Wiltshire
Gastro Pub of the Year
Somerstown Coffee House, Euston, London
HQ Food Champion of the Year
Paul Drye, St Austell Brewery, St Austell, Cornwall
Local Food Pub of the Year
Ye Olde Sun Inn, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire
Food Pub Company of the Year
Whiting and Hammond, Tonbridge, Kent
Spirits Pub of the Year
The Hide Bar, Southwark, London
Sunday Lunch Pub of the Year
The Eagle at Barrow, Barrow, Lancashire
Team of the Year - Back of House
Fiveways, Ormskirk, Lancashire
Team of the Year - Front of House
Ye Old Sun Inn, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire
Unsung Hero of the Year
Joanie Clement, the Nightingale, Balham, South London
Wine Pub of the Year
The Vintry, City of London
Cask Ale Pub of the Year
The Dove Street Inn, Ipswich, Suffolk
The Publican Food & Drink Awards 2009 photos
Readers' comments
As one of my venues was highly commended this year (The Saint James - Brighton in best spirits pub category) and winners of the same category last year with The Great Eastern in Brighton. I am happy to confirm both venues are tied, though some may wish to note they are not tied on spirits! It's a margin issue as I am sure the Best Food pub winner will also testify too. Congratulations to all, we had a fantastic evening as always.
Well done Lisa, not only for winning but for showing that not all tied pubs are down and out. I hope your success continues
Congratulations Lisa! Well done, and thanks for putting some of the commenters straight on your tied status!
Notable that the Somerset Arms won the award for best FOOD pub, other tied venues should take note. SELL LESS BEER, SELL MORE FOOD. Then the beer tie is even more irrelevant.
Lisa, you're a breath of fresh air in the ( somewhat tiny) miasma of whinging tied tenants .
As a winner of Food Pub of the Year, I can confirm that we're a tied pub. However, I think this is irrelevant - whether a pub is tied or freehold, we're all battling to succeed in very difficult times. I'm hugely proud of our achievement, and hope that this will give our pub a much-needed boost for the festive period. Well done to all the winners. Lisa Richards, The Somerset Arms, Food Pub Of The Year 2009
Well said Lisa! Roland - Web content manager
Who cares if they're tied or not! To have won the award means that they put in the effort and tried regardless so their hard work should not be tarred by people trying to knock them. The trade is desperate for good news stories - this is one of them; let it be.
I agree with Ed - stop looking for other angles and just congratulate the winners on what they've achieved? To be judged the best entry in any competition is an achievement (unless you're the only entry of course :o)
Congratulations to everyone concerned. Tied or not, everyone was invited to enter, and then be judged on their own merits. These are the best pubs in their categories that entered the competition. Lets not have a good news story tarred by speculation, and certainly not get the tie involved! Can't you just be happy for the winners?
I believe none of these are tied pubs, can someone confirm this?
Congratulations to all those establishments that have won awards. I am NOT a nationalist but why have no establishments been successful from Wales?
Congratulations to everyone involved!
How many of these are tied-pubs? Well done guys.
And only in England?