Top 50 Gastropubs is back!

We’re back and taking entries for the two awards that run alongside the revealing of the annual Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs list.

This is your chance to be aligned with the greatest gastropubs in the UK by entering the Newcomer of the Year category or the Front-of-House Team of the Year Award.

This year, pubs from across the country reaped serious recognition after being honoured in the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs 2017 list and awards in January.

Press coverage ramped up a notch in 2017 with dozens of national newspapers and magazines devoting significant amounts of space to the venues featured on the list.

We’re well under way with planning for next year’s event, which is set to take place in the historic city of York – our first venture away from the south of England – at a soon-to-be announced venue.

Bringing the awards north

The​ Morning Advertiser​’s (MA​) food & drink editor and editor of Top 50 Gastropubs Nicholas Robinson said: “It makes sense for us to bring the awards to the north of England after so many pubs from northern regions swiped a spot on this year’s list.

“It’s been a busy year since we announced the list and award winners in January. So much positivity followed the 2017 list reveal, which culminated in more than 100 pieces of journalism about the listees and award winners.”

Last year, the list was topped by Andrew Pern’s one Michelin-starred Star Inn at Harome, North Yorkshire, knocking repeat winner Stephen Harris’s Sportsman in Seasalter, Kent, into second place.

It is not the first time Pern has
propelled his gastropub to the top of the list, having appeared there on
several occasions in the early years of Top 50 Gastropubs.

“It’s the third time we’ve been number one on the list and I’ve had my eye on it ever since we lost the top spot,” said Pern. “The Star Inn at Harome is my life and the food we serve is a reflection of the seasons, as well as the great produce found in Yorkshire. It’s such
an honour to be crowned the number one gastropub in the UK.”

Culinary importance

MA​ editor Ed Bedington said: “The Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs list highlights the great work and culinary importance of some of the most unique pubs in the UK. Each year, the businesses mentioned on the list and the entered-for awards benefit from an influx of customers, as well as a wealth of press coverage.

“Moving north to the beautiful city of York will bring a fresh new feel to the event, giving us the opportunity to make it bigger and better than ever.”         

Newcomer of the Year award

This award recognises stand-out pubs that have been open for 18 months or fewer. Judges will look for details on investment in the business; successful food and drink promotions; strong marketing and PR; and any future development plans.

Last year’s winner of this coveted award was the Swan Inn, Chiddingfold, Surrey. The pub makes the best of the chef’s excellent relationships with local suppliers, which is reflected in a daily changing specials board.

If you think your pub has what it takes to be named the best newcomer in 2018, we want to hear from you.

Visit https://wrbookings.top50gastropubs.com​.

Front-of-House of the Year award

If your pub has the best front-of-house manager and team in the trade then they deserve recognition from their industry peers.

Winning teams of this category will be in sync with one another in order to run the best customer-focused food pub. The team’s contribution to the running of the business will be visible through upselling, add-on sales and great dining reviews.

Those who enter the category will also face a mystery diner round of judging, so you must be confident about your team’s skills.

Last year’s winner was the team at the Treby Arms in Sparkwell, Devon.

The front-of-house team doesn’t just tick all of the boxes when it comes to customer service, but go that clichéd extra mile for every guest.

For entry details, visit https://wrbookings.top50gastropubs.com​.