First Proud winner to be announced

A key individual in the licensed trade will be celebrated at next week's Publican Awards with the first Proud of Pubs Award. Inspired by our...

A key individual in the licensed trade will be celebrated at next week's Publican Awards with the first Proud of Pubs Award.

Inspired by our award-winning campaign, the Publican team has decided to present a special award to the individual it feels has done the industry "most proud" over the past year.

The Publican's editor Caroline Nodder said: "We have been overwhelmed by the support we have received for our Proud of Pubs campaign so far.

"This new award gives us the opportunity to highlight the individuals who have been working hard to promote and celebrate this fantastic industry and epitomise everything our campaign stands for."

The awards, dubbed the "pub industry Oscars", will also feature the announcement of phase two of the Proud of Pubs campaign.

Last year 87 MPs from across the House of Commons put their names to the "Proud of Pubs motion", an early day motion asking them to show their support for the pub trade in the wake of the new licensing laws.

Licensees are still adding their names to the Proud of Pubs Charter - a public commitment to trading responsibly, which has seen more than 900 signatories since October 2005.

The Axe & Compass in Heath & Reach in Bedfordshire is one pub which has been making the most of the campaign.

Licensee Jim Woodcock said: "As a freehouse, it's great to get some form of branding behind us and that's what Proud of Pubs has given us.

"Proud of Pubs has been really useful for us and we remain committed to the campaign."

For more information visit www.thepublican.com/proudofpubs

Tickets for The Publican Awards in London on March 20 are now sold out.

To find out who the first recipient of The Publican's Proud of Pubs Award is, visit www.thepublican.com at 11.30pm on Tuesday, March 20.

A full list of all of this year's winners will appear on the site at this time.