The awards, organised by the Publican’s Morning Advertiser, recognise all types of pubs with 17 categories now open for entry. The breadth of categories is designed to let the individual strengths of pub businesses shine through and range from awards recognising different types of pub including Best Community Pub, Best Partnership Pub and Best Freehouse to categories focusing on specific offers such as spirits, food, cask beer and wine.
Two new categories have also been introduced to this year’s awards Best Cider Pub/Bar and Best Pub Loos.
The rewards for being selected as a finalist or winning a Great British Pub Award are numerous – from helping increase profits and attract new customers, giving your team a well-deserved pat on the back, generating excellent press coverage for your pub to helping you attract great new staff to work in your business.
Amazing
As Tom Gee, licensee of the Red Lion in Cricklade, Wiltshire and winner of last year’s winner of the overall title of Great British Pub of the Year, says: “Nothing can make you feel better than winning the award. From a personal and team point of view it is amazing. From a marketing point of view the award has been extremely helpful and our win has undoubtedly helped us grow sales again this year and recruit staff who want to work at an award-winning business. I would recommend entering to other licensees. The benefits are fantastic.”
Finalists are selected through an initial paper judging by a panel of industry experts including pub guide editors, industry body chiefs and consultants and business journalists. They are shortlisted in each of six regions - south east and London, south-west, East Midlands and East Anglia, West midlands and Wales, north west and Yorkshire and north east and Scotland. They are then site visited by the PMA's team of expert judges during late June and July. Regional winners are then selected and these compete to be crowned national champions in each category.
From all 17 national category winners, an overall Great British Pub of the Year 2014 will then be selected.
Ceremony-
The award's finalists and winners will all celebrate their success at the Great British Pub Awards ceremony on Thursday, 11 September at the London Hilton on Park Lane.
The glittering black-tie event is attended by around 800 people and is one of the biggest party nights in the industry. This year's event has a sport theme.
Publican’s Morning Advertiser editor Rob Willock says: “The Great British Pub Awards are the industry Oscars. It’s the one to win and can really put pubs on the map. The time spent entering the awards will be invaluable to your business.”
The closing date for entries is Thursday, 22 May 2014.
For more information and to download entry forms visit www.greatbritishpubawards.co.uk