Video: Great British Pub Awards 2018
Licensees from across the country attended the awards night, held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in west London on Thursday 6 September.
Ed Bedington, editor of The Morning Advertiser, which organised the awards, said: “The event is all about looking for excellence and celebrating that excellence.
“It’s about putting a spotlight on the pub trade.”
The awards were presented by high-energy comedian Russell Kane, and guests enjoyed live entertainment performances throughout the evening including from the beatboxing trio Duke.
Posters of great British icons from Freddie Mercury to Winston Churchill decorated the room, alongside a small-scale Big Ben.
North London-based pub the Red Lion & Sun took the top prize for the UK’s best pub of the year, with judges citing the operation as an a example of all-round excellence.
Overwhelmed
Licensee Heath Ball also scooped the award for Best Wine Pub of the Year, and said: “It is quite overwhelming actually.
"After 12 years of work at the Red Lion & Sun, working really hard, back against the wall sometimes, it is quite overwhelming.”
Pubs were awarded across 15 categories including: John Smith’s Great British Pub, Best Managed Pub, Best Newcomer, Best Food, Best Inn, Best LGBTQ+ Bar, Best Live Entertainment, Best Turnaround Pub, Best Freehouse, Best Sports Pub, Best Partnership and Best Wine Pub/Bar.
Prizes were also given for Chef of the Year and Young Chef of the Year.
Five pubs won pub of the year awards from their pub companies, with Admiral Taverns, EI Group, Greene King, Marston’s and Punch handing out accolades.
The awards were supported by John Smith’s, Booker/Makro, Admiral Taverns, CGA, Brothers Drinks, Sky, EI Group and Diageo.
