The competition, which is sponsored by Sky, launched in January this year and entrants have showed judges how they have rebuilt their businesses and communities, with a focus on resilience, sustainability and diversification.
This year, the BII said entries were of a particularly high standard, making it even trickier for judges to decide who would make it through to the final.
Chosen from more than 300 competitors, six finalists have now been selected based on their community impact, exceptional mystery diner visits, financial and online audits and face-to-face interviews in their pubs with judges Sue Allen and Ashley McCarthy.
Shortlist revealed
The finalists are:
- Amanda & Nick Hemming – Heron Inn, Truro, Cornwall
- Michael Pearson & Charlotte Salaman – The Wych Elm, Kingston Upon Thames, London
- Joe Buckley & Flo Pearce – Tollemache Arms, Harrington, Northamptonshire
- Rumit & Tosh Lakhani – The White Horse, Buckover, Gloucestershire
- Stuart Fox & Julian Crowley – The White Horse, Dover, Kent
- James Lyon Shaw – The Greene Oak, Windsor, Berkshire
BII chief operating officer Steven Alton said: “Our Licensee of the Year Award is the most prestigious and hard-fought award, showing the excellence in our sector. The final six are of an incredible standard.
“We are proud the awards process this year, more than ever, is offering a value-added experience to all those involved, with business insight and the chance to evaluate your business available at every stage, from mystery diner visits and feedback, right through to our final judging day at Sky HQ."
Event details
Alton added: “I want to take this opportunity to congratulate all involved and wish them the best of luck for the final stages of the competition.”
This year’s Licensee of the Year will be crowned at the BII’s Summer Event later this month (Tuesday 21 June), taking place at the HAC Royal Artillery Gardens in London.
The organisation also thanks everyone who entered the competition this year and called on operators to keep their eyes peeled for another opportunity to enter in January 2023.
