Paul Salisbury, the managing director of gastropub operator Lovely Pubs, has won the Great British Pub Food Awards' 2011 Special Achievement Award.
Salisbury, who operates six sites including the Boot at Lapworth, has worked with Mitchells & Butlers since 2004 developing what M&B now calls its Premium Country Dining format.
One of Salisbury's pubs, the Orange Tree at Chadwick End in Warwickshire, was used as the template upon which developed the project.
Greene King Pub Company was named Food Operator of the Year (branded) and also scooped Food Concept of the Year for Hungry Horse.
Tom and Ed Martin's London-based ETM Group won the Food Operator of the Year (unbranded).
Winner of Steak Pub of the Year was Youngs' site the Lass O'Richmond Hill in London. All-day Dining Pub winner was Peach Pub Company's Almanack in Kenilworth, Warwickshire and Italian Food Pub was won by Oakman Inns' Red Lion, Water End, Hertfordshire.
The overall title in the award's chefs' competition of Pub Chef of the Year 2011 was won by Jean-Phillipe Bidart, head chef at the Millbrook Inn, South Pool, Devon, owned by Ian Dent and Diana Hunt.
Young Pub Chef of the Year went to George Allan, chef de partie at the Cock Pub & Restaurant in Hemingford Grey, Cambridgeshire.
The other winners were:
• Pie Pub Chef of the Year: Craig Hennessey, The Queen's Head Inn, Askham, Cumbria
• Meat Pub Chef of the Year: Karl Mainey, the Crown Inn, Roecliffe, North Yorkshire
• Seafood Pub Chef of the Year: Robin Syndercombe, the Duke of Cumberland, Arms, Fernhurst, West Sussex
• Game Pub Chef of the Year: Richard Knighting, Marlborough Tavern, Bath
• Desserts Pub Chef of the Year: Andy Snowling, the Hunny Bell, Melton Constable, Norfolk
• Team of the Year: Jean-Phillippe Bidart and Georgia Johnson, the Milbrook Inn, South Pool, Devon
• Curry Pub Chef of the Year: Indunil Upatissa: Noel Arms Hotel, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire
• Roast Pub Chef of the Year: Rebecca White, the Full Moon, Morton, Nottingham
• Fish and Chips Pub Chef of the Year: Justin Brown, the Sun Inn, Dummer, Hampshire