Since the launch in January this year, those working in the licensed trade were encouraged to enter to showcase their businesses, sharing how they have continued to diversify and develop their businesses to become more sustainable and thrive for LOYA, which is run in partnership with Sky Business.
More than 300 licensees have been nominated by colleagues, customers and friends as worthy contenders for the award, the particularly high standard of entries received this year made it even more difficult for the team of judges to decide on the quarter-finalists.
Fantastic applications
The LOYA quarter-finalists have reached this far in the awards based on their “fantastic applications, coupled with social media and web assessments carried out by the BII team”.
The next step involves HGEM, partners of the BII LOYA, sending out mystery diners and drinkers to each of the quarter-finalist.
BII CEO Steve Alton said: “Our Licensee of the Year Award is the most prestigious and hard-fought award, showing the excellence in our sector. We are delighted to have had so many entries in 2024, despite the challenges that our sector has faced over the past few years, showing, as ever, the resilience and commitment of our licensees.”
Value-added experience
Alton continued: “We are proud these awards offer a value-added experience to all those involved with business insight and the chance to evaluate their businesses at every stage, from mystery diner visits and feedback, right through to our final judging day at Sky HQ.
The BII will announce its semi-finalists in April, who will then receive a visit and interview at their premises with head judges Amanda Hemming and Ashley McCarthy to help decide on the final six.
All six finalists will be presented with a trophy at the BII Summer Event on 18 June, where the winner of Licensee of the Year 2024 will be crowned.
The 53 quarter-finalists are:
Andrew Goodall
Rose & Crown Severnstoke, WR8 9JQ
Andrew Black
The Hare & Hounds Inn, LA11 6NN
Andrew Mounsey
The Star, GU7 1EL
Angus Mckean & Claire Morgan
The Red Lion, SW13 9RU
Anna Perry & Mark Bromley
Royal Oak Naseby, NN6 6DA
Ashley Gartshore
The Beeches, LE65 2LP
Becky Bailey
Shepherd & Dog, CM11 2XY
Benjamin Bullman
The George IV, W4 2DR
Charlotte Bowden & Theo Rihll
The Puffing Billy, EX3 0TR
Chris Michaelas
The Dartford Sports Bar, DA1 2DJ
Christian & Steve Hanks
The New Inn, PL24 2QP
Daniel Lamprecht
Lion and Lamb, CM6 1SR
Darren & Charlotte Nash
The Red Lion, SN6 6DD
Dave Buxton
Tollemache Arms Alpraham, CW6 9JE
Dave Seward
The George and Dragon, OX17 2JW
Dawn & Darren Stevenson
The King Charles, SO23 7NU
Emma Harrison
The Three Hills, CB21 4PW
Gill Churchill
The Black River Inn, EX21 5PT
Glyn Smith
Old Kings Head, BS22 6QR
Hannah Lawson
Angel & Crown, TW9 1JL
Harry Gurney
The Tap & Run, LE14 3BG
Harry Seccombe & Nicholas Humphrey
Chaplin’s & The Cellar Bar, BH1 4AG
Helen Paterson
The Cherry Tree, ML2 0BP
Helen Pertoldi & Andrew Lea
The Royal Oak Warboys, PE28 2SB
Ian Wrigg
The Hop Pole, B61 0DF
James Lyon-Shaw
The Greene Oak, SL4 5UW
Jo Reading
The Angel, BH15 1NF
John & Vicky Judson
The George, S33 8WG
Justine Lorriman
The Royal Dyche, BB11 3BW
Kathryn Lowe
The Shakespeare Inn, HU12 8JN
Kathy Hill
The King & Queen, CR3 5UA
Kay Towers
The Holmefield Arms, S80 4RT
Maisie Dawson
The Beach Pub, EX8 1DR
Mark Annear
The Cott Inn, TQ9 6HE
Max Shaw & Kelly Deary
The Castle Inn, DE74 2PP
Michelle & Kevin Abbott
The Anchor Inn, CT3 1BJ
Ben Knowles & Neil Washington
The Holly Bush at Salt, ST18 0BX
Nick Hunter
The Happy Cheese, SO40 7AR
Nicole Holt
The Stag Inn, TN34 3BJ
Paul Senior & David Thornhill
The Goose, M13 JE
Paul Dexter
The Old Swan, NN6 0NA
Paul & Emma Gibbon
The Plough Prestbury, GL52 3BG
Rhiannon & David Price
The Crown, NP11 7GF
Richard Ellison
Old Hall Hotel, S33 6RH
Rob Moore
The Keynsham Courtyard, BS31 1DP
Rob Madigan
The Star Coffee & Ale House, PO33 2HT
Sally Madely
Two Left Feet Bar & Kitchen, WN2 1PE
Sarah Godwin
The Lamb Inn, BS26 2AP
Steve Banks
The Woodman Ruislip, HA4 7SE
Steve and Jo Haslam
Bread & Cheese, SS7 1AA
Sue & David Hillyard
The Chequers Inn, LE10 2DN
Thomas McLoughlin
The Hightown Pub and Kitchen, L38 0BA
Victoria Williams & Zac Williams-Wolfe
Fletchers Arms, M34 6EG
