Finalists unveiled for Publican Awards 2023

The prestigious awards, now into their third decade, have seen the best businesses in the pub and bar sector shortlisted across 16 categories, ranging from best employer to the most sustainable business.

Judges will now be moving to the next stage of on-the-road site visits and research trips and the awards will culminate in the hospitality sector’s biggest event with around 1,500 people from across the trade celebrating at London Evolution in Battersea on 29 March.

Ed Bedington, editor of The Morning Advertiser, which organises the awards, said: “It’s great to see some amazing businesses shortlisted across the award categories.

“Being a finalist is a great achievement in itself and judges will now be putting those businesses under the microscope to see which really stands up to scrutiny and can claim to be the best in the sector.

“These awards are the pinnacle for those in the pub and bar trade, with a robust and rigorous judging process which really puts the finalists through their paces. We’re looking forward to that process and finally revealing our winners at Battersea in March for an epic party.”

The awards are sponsored by Britvic Soft Drinks, Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Heineken UK, Molson Coors Beverage Company, Moët ​​Hennessy, Matthew Clark, Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company and Poppleston Allen.

The 2023 finalists are:

Best Accommodation Operator​

• Daniel Thwaites - Inns
• Fuller, Smith & Turner
• Grosvenor Pubs & Inns
• Upham Group

Best Brewing Pub Company​

• Brewhouse & Kitchen
• Salt Brewing
• Big Smoke Brew Co
• Lincoln Green Brewing Co

Best Community Pub Operator​

• Urban Village Pubs
• Greene King
• Admiral
• Stonegate - Craft Union

Best Drinks Offer​

• Albion & East
• Casa Hotels
• The Alchemist

Best Food Offer​

• Brucan Pubs
• The Botanist
• Barons Pub Company

Best Late Night Operator​

• Nightcap
• REKOM
• Revolution
• Stonegate

Best Managed Pub Company​

• Cheshire Pub Co
• Brewhouse & Kitchen
• Urban Pubs & Bars
• Upham Group

Best New Site​

• Cheshire Cat Pubs & Bars - Mainwaring Arms
• Brewdog - Waterloo
• Cheshire Pub Co - The Churchill Tree
• Little Door - The Little Scarlet Door
• REKOM - Heidi’s Bier Bar, Cardiff
• Remarkable Pubs - The Boleyn Tavern

Best Premium Food Offer​

• Anglian Country Inns
• Casa Hotels
• Grosvenor Pubs & Inns

Best Pub Brand/Concept​

• BrewDog
• Brewhouse & Kitchen
• Greene King (Chef & Brewer)
• Little Door Co

Best Pub Employer 501+ Employees​

• Greene King
• Stonegate Group

Best Employer up to 500 Employees​

• Barons Pub Company
• Chestnut
• Brewhouse & Kitchen
• Beds & Bars

Best Pub Operations Team​

• REKOM
• Barons Pub Company
• Punch Pubs & Co

Best Sustainable Pub Company​

• Mitchells & Butlers
• Marston’s
• The Alchemist

Best Tenanted & Leased Pub Company (501+ sites)​

• Admiral Taverns
• Greene King

Best Tenanted & Leased Pub Company (up to 500 sites)​

• Fuller, Smith & Turner
• Marston’s
• Wells & Co