The awards received a 60% increase in numbers of entries this year, and include a wide range of categories such as marketing implementation, green business, business innovation and commercial achievement, and are aimed at highlighting the best pubs, bars, restaurants and retailers for independent craft beer in the UK.
The best in the business
Among the finalists in the various categories include: Fourpure Brewing Co, North Brewing Co, Brick brewery, Signature Brew, Pivovar, Beer 52 and Hop Burns & Black.
SIBA chief executive Mike Benner said: “I would like to congratulate all of the finalists that have been shortlisted for the SIBA Business Awards 2018. Making it this far is a huge achievement because the quality and quantity of entries this year was extremely high.
“The brewery awards name the very best brewing businesses – whether it is fantastic can or bottle design, efforts to be more environmentally friendly or innovative – and the industry awards were introduced to congratulate those companies doing the most in the UK to sell, promote or serve fantastic independent craft beer."
Flagship event
The SIBA Business Awards 2018 will be presented at an evening ceremony on the 14 March 2018 at BeerX UK 2018 – a huge beer and brewing trade event. This year, the event will be being held in the city of Liverpool for the first time, in its new home at the Exhibition Centre.
The awards are being presented by Radio 2 broadcaster and resident foodie Nigel Barden and are one of the highlights of SIBA’s flagship event, alongside the organisation’s Independent Beer Awards which take place the next evening, Thursday 15 March.
The full list of finalists is as follows:
Business Awards 2018 finalists
Marketing Implementation
Fourpure Brewing Co
Signature Brew
Wood Brewery
Green Business
Bun Dubh
Clarkshaws
Farr Brew
Hobsons
Business Innovation
Clarkshaws Brewing Co
North Brewing Co
Veterans Brewing
Commercial Achievement
Boss Brewing
Fourpure Brewing Co
North Brewing Co
Best Individual Design
Brick Brewery
Loch Lomond Brewery
Signature Brew
Best Concept Design
Boss Brewing
Fyne Ales
Leigh Brewery
Signature Brew
Stewarts
Supplier Associate of the year
Beer Box Shop
Byworth Boilers
Brewing Services & Consultancy
Lemon Top Creative
Saxon Packaging
UK's Best Independent Craft Beer Retailer – Multiple
Pivovar
Real Ale
Waitrose
UK's Best Independent Craft Beer Retailer – Single
Beer 52
Hop Burns & Black
House of Trembling Madness
The Epicurean
UK's Best Independent Craft Beer Restaurant
Ceabhar, Isle of Tiree
Pavement Vaults, York
The Scran & Scallie, Edinburgh
Best Independent Craft Beer Promotion – On-trade
Beer Day Britain
JD Wetherspoon
UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Bar or Pub – City
North Bar, West Yorkshire
The Box Social, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Wigan Central, Lancashire
Sheffield Tap, South Yorkshire
UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Bar or Pub – Rural
The Bailey Head, Shropshire
The Cove, Devon
Geese & Fountain, Lincolnshire
Red Lion Inn, Wiltshire