The finalists are:
Heartwood Collection
Having completed a major rebrand from Brasserie Bar Co to Heartwood Collection in July 2023, the brand boasts a strong marketing strategy with a clear and ambitious growth plan.
The group secured £100m in additional funding to help support its expansion plans, including a view to rollout 60 freehold pubs with accommodation sites by June 2027.
With impressive customer satisfaction levels and strong sales across its estate, it is clear Heartwood have thought of everything to ensure a smooth customer journey from start to finish.
Though its food offering is where Heartwood shines, with Brasserie Blanc founder Raymond Blanc having a key input into the menus, which are seasonally updated.
Heartwood communicates its identity through similar styles across its venues, though each site has unique nods to the area’s history and aims to immerse itself in the community.
The firm’s brand ambassadors, which are woodland creatures each representing a different value, also showcase Heartwood’s values.
Oakman Group
South-east based operator Oakman Group has been a trailblazer in setting industry trends since first opening its doors in 2007.
Its values have stood the test of time, weathering ongoing economic headwinds resiliently.
The brand, which operates more than 40 pubs across the country, focuses on community-based and food-led sites, all operated to a consistent high quality.
Its concept aims to transform sites into contemporary spaces with a strong sense of identity and integration within the local community to deliver a variety of events and a high-quality yet accessible food offering.
Each venue boasts individuality and adaptability to deliver the pubco’s community-focused ethos, working with local causes and businesses to build longstanding connections and ensure provenance on its menus.
Boasting a high staff retention rate with a strong staff training program and engagement initiatives, including apprenticeships and other development opportunities, the company is well poised to continue its pioneering legacy.
Hickory’s
Hickory’s Smokehouse boasts a strong and unique concept, based on Southern American food and hospitality.
Offering smoked meats and sweet iced tea as well as live music and American sporting events, Hickory’s embraces all things American and invests heavily in learning and development trips to the USA to ensure true authenticity.
With strong customer satisfaction levels and sales, the firm maximises different dayparts and occasions with a variety of formats for different needs.
For example, each venue, which is easily identifiable from the outside thanks to consistent and unique brand and styling, offers bar-dinning, a cinema room for children, cosy verandas and quitter areas for those looking for a more intimate experience.
The Chester-based brand, which operates more than 15 sites and was founded in 2010, also stands in good stead for the future, with a clear and concise growth plan, demonstrating how pushing boundaries within hospitality can get results.
