Kerridge and wife Beth run the Hand & Flowers in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, which has taken the number one spot in the Top 50 list for the past three years.
The site now been retired to the Top 50 ‘Hall of Fame’, and so a new pub will be taking first place in this year’s Top 50 list.
Kerridge said: “It’s a huge honour to be asked to present the Budweiser Budvar Top 50 Gastropub Awards. This industry voting event is going from strength to strength and is a sign of the huge interest in British pubs, of which I’m proud to be a part of. I cannot wait to see how takes the number one spot this year. Good luck to everybody, long live the pub!”
He and wife Beth are opening an Enterprise Inns’ site also in Marlow, in November. The Coach will have a focus on all-day dining.
In addition to the prestigious Top 50 list, which is voted for by industry experts including top chefs, food writers, pubco bosses and pub guide editors, there are also three awards now open for entries from dining pubs.
These are Newcomer of the Year, Business Innovation of the Year and Front of House Manager of the Year.
Last year’s winners include Holly Eggleton, of the Pony & Trap, Chew Magna, near Bristol. She said: “It was amazing to win the award. It is great that Front of House in general is being recognised with awards as they are the first and last memory that customers have of a restaurant, so it’s important that this is done to the highest standard.”
Premium Czech beer Budweiser Budvar is the award’s headline partner. Associate partners are Appletiser, Berkmann Wine Cellars and Highland Park.
For more information on the awards and to download entry forms visit www.top50gastropubs.co.uk. The closing date for entries is 17 October 2014.