Entries for the 2019 Publican Awards now open

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Ones to win: the Publican Awards is a great opportunity for operators to be recognised for the fantastic work they are doing

Does your business have what it takes to win a Publican Award? Well now’s the time to find out.

The industry’s leading awards are now being launched for 2019, and pub companies across the UK are being challenged to test their mettle against the best in the business to be in with a chance of winning a coveted title.

  • Enter this year's Publican Awards here now!

Ed Bedington, editor of The Morning Advertiser, which organises the awards, said: “For pub companies across the UK these are the ones to win, the awards that really put a marker in the ground and demonstrate that yours is a business that is leading its field.

“We’re facing a rather turbulent time over the coming months and companies will need to look to all opportunities to maximise success for their business.

“Do you want to be recognised for the great work you’re doing with your teams? In a time when employment is a challenge, do you want people crying out to work for your business? Are you looking to grow your operations and attract forward-thinking investors?

“One answer to these, and many other similar questions is the Publican Awards – put your company forward, benchmark where you stand in your field and be in with a chance of giving your operations the kind of boost that money cannot buy.”

The awards are open to pub companies across the UK and cover a wide range of areas of excellence from employer of the year, to best new site.

This year has also seen the introduction of a new award to the competition. “With all the focus on the environment and how pub companies should be working to limit their footprint, we’ve decided to launch our first sustainability award,” said Bedington. “This is a great chance for those operators leading the charge in this sector, there’s some really good work going on, and it will be great to shine a light on it and reward those that are focusing on it.”

The website will be open for entries from 11 October, and online entries will close on 5 November. Bedington added: “These awards are, without a doubt, the toughest in the industry to win, and we stand by that. It’s a rigorous process and rightly so, we want to recognise the best in the industry. And for those entering the awards, it’s a great process to test your mettle and see how you measure up in the market.

“I’d urge all pubcos to enter the awards, it’s a great process to go through, regardless of the outcome, and can deliver real benefits and boosts to your business.”

Coveted award

Sort your entry now

Entries close on 5 November and the awards themselves will take place at Battersea Evolution, London, on 12 March 2019. For more details on the competition, contact Rachel Ward on 01293 610394, or email her on rachel.ward@wrbm.com.

New World Trading Company CEO Chris Hill said: “The Publican Awards continue to be the benchmark for the industry. For years, we coveted winning one, and to have done so in recent years is a brilliant boost for the hard-working teams that make it happen. The previous two awards evenings are nights that will live long in the memory.

“The reason it means so much is that the assessment process is so rigorous, and a brilliant examination of your business. The shortlists are always of such a high standard.”

Brewhouse & Kitchen CEO Kris Gumbrell said: “I have been to every Publican Awards for the past 18 years, and was fortunate enough to be part of a winning team while at Greene King. The sense of achievement was amazing and so important for everyone in the team.

“Having worked hard to build a new business from scratch, our ambition was to win a Publican Award at Brewhouse & Kitchen. The process helped us take a long hard look at ourselves and understand our strengths and the areas we needed to work on. I actually believe it makes you stronger internally – it validates and rewards everyone’s creativity, innovation and hard graft.”

Fuller’s corporate communications manager Georgina Wald said: “The Publican Awards are our industry’s Oscars and winning an award is great recognition for the business – both internally and externally. It also helps you to really sell your company – people like to associate themselves with winners whether that’s as a customer or an employee.” 

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Cream of the crop: last year's winners at the Publican Awards

The headline sponsor of The Publican Awards is Sky. Category sponsors are Asahi, Britvic, Carlsberg, Coca-Cola European Partners, CPL Online, Fentimans, Heineken, Kuehne & Nagel, Molson Coors and Sky. Judging is in association with HGEM.

Categories for businesses to enter are:

  • Best Pub Employer (up to 500 employees)
  • Best Pub Employer (501+ employees)
  • Best Pub Brand/Concept
  • Best Community Pub Operator
  • Best Value Food Offer
  • Best Food Offer
  • Best Premium Food Offer
  • Best Drinks Offer
  • Best Managed Pub Company (2-50 sites)
  • Best Managed Pub Company (51+ sites)
  • Best Brewing Pub Company
  • Best New Pub/Bar
  • Best Accommodation Offer
  • Best Tenanted/Leased Pub Company (up to 500 sites)
  • Best Tenanted/Leased Pub Company (501+ sites)
  • Best Pub Operations Team
  • Best Late Night Operator
  • Best Sustainable Pub Company