Find out about the Best Accommodation Operator finalists

The finalists are:

Beds & Bars​

Beds & Bars operates a unique mix of hostel accommodation connected to pubs and sports bars at 12 locations across the UK, taking in London, Edinburgh, Bath and Newquay.

Sites and rooms are designed to give travellers a premium hostel stay, with the focus on providing a safe environment, decent food and drink at an accessible price, and a range of entertainment to create memorable stays. Mojito-making classes, pizza nights, rooftop barbecues and guided pub crawls are all part of the mix.

Traditional dormitory accommodation is being supplemented with the introduction of Japanese-style pods that provide extra comfort and privacy, while the availability of single rooms at a premium gives the business an extra commercial string to its bow.

The group takes an outside-the-box approach to marketing, including pop-ups at major events such as Munich’s Oktoberfest and building partnerships with key social media influencers to maximise engagement with its target international audience.

St Austell Brewery​

Major capital investment in its pubs with rooms across Devon and Cornwall has helped St Austell take big strides forward in developing its accommodation business.

Room design and facilities have been upgraded, with keen attention to detail from the company’s in-house design team, to provide guests with a feeling of luxury during their stay, across all tiers of room price.

DAB radios, high-quality toiletries, complementary beer, espresso coffee machines and, where space allows, a super-king bed, are all on the standard spec.

All venues have dog-friendly rooms, with canine guests made to feel welcome with goody bags.

Refurbs pay as much attention to the outside spaces and bar areas as they do the rooms, to ensure that guest comfort and the ‘wow’ factor extends to their whole stay.

All this has been done while retaining the essential essence of pub-like character in the venues, so they remain focal points of their local communities in addition to their appeal to visitors.

The Coaching Inn Group​

The company founded by Kevin Charity has been on a rapid growth path fuelled by site acquisitions since being bought by RedCat Pub Company​ in 2021. In doing so, it’s maintained a clear focus on its core strengths, breathing new life into historic old coaching inns in market towns across the country.

Recent refurbishments have all been designed in Charity’s vision, with high quality beds and fabrics, and acute attention to detail, all set up to the minimum standards that he insists staff at the sharp end of the business deliver.

The food and drink package aspires to similarly high levels, with freshly-cooked food and good quality ingredients to the fore in dining rooms, and premium brands including beer from local microbrewers in the bar.

The aim is for each site to have a coffee shop too, to appeal to a local audience as well as staying guests.