For almost three decades, the competition has recognised excellence throughout the pub and bar trade, celebrating some of the best operations around.
Ed Bedington, editor of The Morning Advertiser, which organises the awards, said: “The competition to get into the finals of The Publican Awards is always intense and this year was no exception.
“It’s been a real challenge for our judges to whittle the field down to the final shortlist, and the standard of entries was exceptional.
“However, we now have our finalists in place, and now the hard work really begins as our judges and mystery shoppers prepare to hit the road for the next stage of this exhaustive judging process.”
Fantastic celebration
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Following the various site visits, the finalists will all face off against panels of industry expert judges on the final judging day where the winners will be decided.
Bedington added: “We’re looking forward to putting all our finalists through their paces during the judging process, and then revealing our winners at a fantastic celebration for all the industry in March.”
The winners will be named during The Publican Awards finale at Battersea Evolution on 4 March with celebrity host and comedian Rob Beckett.
2020 shortlist
This year’s finalists are:
Best Accommodation Operator
Stay Original Company
Pub Love
The Inn Collection Group
Brakspear
Best Brewing Pub Company
Curious Brewing
North Brewing Co
BrewDog
Brewhouse & Kitchen
Best Community Pub Operator
Blind Tiger Inns
Mitchells and Butlers: Sizzling Pub Company
Wells & Co: Pizza, Pots & Pints
Craft Union
Best Drinks Offer
Cirrus Inns
Barworks
Berkeley Inns
Cheshire Cat Pubs & Bars
Best Food Offer
Hippo Inns
Shepherd Neame
BBQ Whiskey Beer
Berkeley Inns
Liberation Group
Best Managed Pub Company (2-50 sites)
Arc Inspirations
Oakman Inns
Barworks
Urban Pubs & Bars
Brewhouse & Kitchen
Best Managed Pub Company (51+ sites)
Bermondsey Pub Company
Mitchells & Butlers: Nicholson’s
Best New Pub/Bar
Three Cheers Pub Co – the Bedford, Balham, south London
Cameron’s Brewery – Head of Steam, Leeds
North Brewing Co – North Brewing Co Tap, Leeds
Urban Pubs & Bars – Juno Rooms, City of London
Albion & East – Serata Hall, Shoreditch, east London
Liberation Group – the Ostrich, Bristol
Best Premium Food Offer
Seafood Pub Company
Anglian Country Inns
Bel & The Dragon
The White Brasserie Company
Best Pub Brand/Concept
Arc Inspirations – Manahatta
The New World Trading Company – The Florist
Brasserie Bar Co
Hickory’s Smokehouse
Best Pub Employer (501+ employees)
McMullen & Sons
The New World Trading Company
Stonegate Pub Company
Oakman Inns
Best Pub Employer (up to 500 employees)
The Inn Collection Group
Barworks
Brewhouse & Kitchen
Stay Original Company
Best Pub Operations Team
Greene King
Hippo Inns
City Pub Group
Best Sustainable Pub Company
Greene King
Darwin & Wallace
Palmers Brewery
Frederic Robinsons
Best Tenanted & Leased (501+ sites)
Ei Group
Greene King
Punch Pubs & Co
Best Tenanted & Leased (up to 500 sites)
Palmers Brewery
Frederic Robinsons
Shepherd Neame
Best Late Night Operator
Stonegate Pub Company
The Deltic Group
Inception Group
Bedington added: “Good luck to all our finalists in the challenging competition ahead, and commiserations to those that didn’t get through – this competition is not an easy one and we appreciate the efforts of all who look to enter. I look forward to revealing our winners in March.”
The Publican Awards are sponsored by: Asahi, Britvic, Budweiser Brewing Group, CPL Online, Fentimans, Heineken, Kuehne+Nagel, Molson Coors, Poppleston Allen and Sky.