In pictures: The Publican Awards 2019 winners

Best Brewing Company: JW Lees (sponsored by Fentimans)

A new entrant to the awards this year, this Manchester-based family brewery was out to prove that its focus on tradition and innovation gave it the edge.

Best Accommodation Operator: Fuller, Smith & Turner (sponsored by HGEM)

This pubco has a strong track record of investment and a powerful heritage. Its recent shift in focus to operations following the sale of its beer arm made the group a strong contender.

Best Drinks Offer: Be At One (sponsored by Coca-Cola European Partners)

This Stonegate-owned operation is a cocktail specialist whose passion and innovation saw it take a win after years of being a finalist.

Best Food Offer: The Liberation Group (sponsored by Food Spark)

A newer entrant to the category, the Channel Islands and West Country-based operator made its mark with a high-quality food offer that also delivered on value.

Best Late Night Operator: The Deltic Group

Deltic has a rich heritage in the night-time sector as a club and bar operator and went one further than last year by sealing the deal as the leading business in this category.

Best Managed Pub Company (2-50 sites): The New World Trading Company (sponsored by Molson Coors)

NWTC is a fast-growing business and reclaimed its title as Best Managed Pub Company (2 to 50 sites) after winning in 2017.

Best Managed Pub Company (51+ sites): Stonegate Pub Company (sponsored by CPL Online)

One of the UK's leading pub companies, Stonegate has been on an acquisitions rampage of late, snapping up smaller chains left, right and centre. Those acquisitions clearly caught the judges' eyes.

Best New Pub/Bar: The Box – Arc Inspirations (sponsored by Heineken)

This Arc Inspirations concept is a sports bar with broad appeal, all backed up by a fantastic food and drink offer with great attention to detail.

Best Pub Operations Team: Fuller, Smith & Turner (sponsored by Sky)

A growing focus on pub operations has put Fuller's in the forefront of the pub and bar sector, allowing it to steal a march on the other finalists.

Best Premium Food Offer: Cirrus Inns (sponsored by AB InBev)

Cirrus Inns is a unique, boutique and high-end pub operator that has adopted a bespoke and independent approach to its operations.

Best Pub/Brand Concept: Inception Group – Mr Fogg's (sponsored by Asahi)

Inception Group's Mr Fogg's format offers an unusual Victorian experience for customers and has quickly captured a strong following with its innovative approach.

Best Pub Employer (501+ employees): Stonegate Pub Company (sponsored by Carlsberg UK)

One of the largest businesses in the competition, Stonegate's employee-focused development initiatives caught the judges' eyes.

Best Pub Employer (up to 500 employees): The Inn Collection Group (sponsored by MCA)

Another new entrant this year, this fast-growing business set the bar high for its competitors.

Best Community Pub Operator: Stonegate Pub Company (sponsored by Britvic)

Community remains a strong focus for Stonegate, which has more than 700 pubs across the UK.

Best Sustainable Pub Company: Darwin & Wallace (sponsored by Sky)

This unique London-based pubco takes an independent and exacting approach to running its operation, and a large part of that takes in its sustainable ethos.

Best Tenanted/Leased Pub Company: Admiral Taverns (sponsored by Kuehne + Nagel)

A former two-time winner, this Chester-based pubco was determined to stamp its authority once again on the category to cement its past success into a triple win.

Outstanding Industry Contribution: Rooney Anand, chief executive of Greene King (sponsored by The Morning Advertiser)​

Anand leaves Greene King at the end of April after 14 years as its chief executive and 18 as director. He has transformed Greene King into the UK's largest pub retailer and brewer, operating 3,100 pubs, restaurants and hotels.

Business Leader of the Year: Simon Longbottom, chief executive officer of Stonegate Pub Company (sponsored by Poppleston Allen)

Leading his company from the front since 2014, Longbottom has overseen a period of rapid expansion, pulling off some impressive deals in recent years, including Fever Bars and Be At One to name a couple.