Categories & Criteria

With so many pubs having specialist offerings these awards give you the chance to highlight why your pub is the greatest in the following categories:

Local Food Pub of the Year

This award will go to a pub working with local suppliers to serve great local and seasonal pub food. The judges will look for clear evidence of:

• Financial success
• Sourcing of local products
• Communication of sourcing policy to customers
• High standards of customer service
• Commitment to employee training
• Marketing and promotional flair

Sunday Lunch Pub of the Year

This award will go to a pub which make a speciality of the important Sunday lunch occasion, whether it’s brunch or the full Sunday roast. Focusing on product quality and service, as well as overall marketing, the judges will look for clear evidence of:

• Financial success
• Sourcing policy and relationship with suppliers
• Menu development and innovation
• High standards of customer service
• Commitment to employee training
• Marketing and promotional flair

Classic Food Pub of the Year

This award will go to a pub which focuses on serving traditional pub food to the highest standards in terms of both product quality and customer service. The judges will look for clear evidence of:

• Financial success
• Sourcing policy and relationship with suppliers
• Menu development and innovation
• High standards of customer service
• Commitment to employee training
• Marketing and promotional flair

Gastro Pub of the Year

This award will go to a pub offering fresh, high quality food, run by an entrepreneurial chef to the highest standards in terms of both product quality and customer service. The judges will look for clear evidence of:

• Financial success
• Sourcing of fresh, seasonal produce
• Communication of sourcing policy to customers
• Menu development and innovation
• High standards of customer service
• Commitment to employee training
• Marketing and promotional flair

Food Pub of the Year

This award will go to a great ‘all-rounder’, a pub offering high quality food, to the highest standards in terms of both product quality and customer service. The judges will look for clear evidence of:

• Financial success
• Sourcing policy and relationship with suppliers
• Menu development and innovation
• Communication with customers
• Commitment to customer service, including employee training
• Marketing and promotional flair

Cask Ale Pub of the Year

The judges will look for clear evidence of:

• Financial success of the pub, particularly in regard to sales of cask ale
• Ability to provide good choice while also maintaining top quality of serve
• Knowledge and passion for the category
• Commitment to customer service
• Commitment to employee training
• Marketing and promotional flair

Speciality Beer Pub of the Year

The judges will look for clear evidence of:

• Financial success of the pub
• Relationship with suppliers
• Range development and innovation
• Commitment to customer service
• Commitment to employee training
• Marketing and promotional flair

Wine Pub of the Year

The judges will look for clear evidence of:

• Financial success of the pub, particularly in regard to sales of wine
• Knowledge and passion for the category
• Innovative approach and good relationships with suppliers
• Commitment to customer service
• Commitment to employee training
• Marketing and promotional flair

Spirits Pub of the Year

The judges will look for clear evidence of:

• Financial success of the pub, particularly in regard to sales of spirits
• Great range sold in an innovative way (such as specialising in a particular spirit or a great range of cocktails)
• Knowledge and passion for the category
• Commitment to customer service
• Commitment to employee training
• Marketing and promotional flair

Drinks Pub of the Year

The judges will look for clear evidence of:

• Financial success of the pub, particularly in regard to sales of spirits
• A pub that offers an unsurpassed range of drinks served to the highest standards
• Knowledge and passion for drinks
• Commitment to customer service
• Commitment to employee training
• Marketing and promotional flair

Front of House Team of the Year

This award will go to a bar or serving team which demonstrates a commitment to delivering the highest standards in terms of customer service and product quality. The judges will look for clear evidence of:

• Financial success of the pub
• Commitment to customer service
• Consistent approach to employee training
• Commitment to the success of the business
• Overall professionalism of the business

Back of House Team of the Year

This award will go to a kitchen team which demonstrates a commitment to delivering the highest standards in terms of customer service and product quality. The judges will look for clear evidence of:

• Financial success of the pub
• Commitment to customer service
• Consistent approach to employee training
• Commitment to the success of the business
• Overall professionalism of the business

Chef of the Year

This award will go to an individual working in a pub or small group. The judges will be looking for will look for clear evidence of:

• Financial success of the pub
• Sourcing policy and relationship with suppliers
• Menu development and innovation
• Commitment to customer service, including employee training
• Commitment to the success of the business
• Overall professionalism of the business

Unsung Hero of the Year

This award will go to an individual (not a licensee) working in a pub, supporting colleagues and making a contribution to standards of customer service, in a role which would not always be recognised. The judges will look for clear evidence of:

• Financial success of the pub
• Employee’s commitment to customer service
• Support for colleagues
• Commitment to the success of the business
• Overall professionalism of the business

HQ Food Champion of the Year

This award will go to an individual working in a pub company at catering development manager or equivalent level. The judges will look for clear evidence of:

• Financial success of the pub company, and the food operation in particular
• Sourcing policy and relationship with suppliers
• Menu development and innovation
• Commitment to customer service
• Commitment to employee training
• Marketing and promotional flair

HQ Drinks Champion of the Year

The judges will look for clear evidence of:

• Financial success of the company, with particular reference to the applicant’s areas of responsibility
• Relationship with suppliers
• Innovative approach to drinks retailing and how that has been introduced across the pub company’s estate
• Applicant’s influence on improving customer service
• Applicant’s commitment to employee training
• Marketing and promotional flair

Retail Food Concept

This award will go to a brand or concept with five or more outlets, operated by a pub company. The judges will look for clear evidence of:

• Financial success of the brand, and the food operation in particular
• Sourcing policy and relationship with suppliers
• Menu development and innovation
• Commitment to customer service
• Commitment to employee training
• Marketing and promotional flair

Retail Drinks Concept

The judges will look for clear evidence of:

• Financial success of the brand, and the drinks operation in particular
• Good relationship with suppliers
• Innovation either with a specific drinks category or across all categories
• Commitment to customer service
• Commitment to employee training
• Marketing and promotional flair

Food Pub Company of the Year

This award will go to pub group with five or more outlets. The judges will look for clear evidence of:

• Financial success of the pub company, and the food operation in particular
• Sourcing policy and relationship with suppliers
• Menu development and innovation
• Commitment to customer service
• Commitment to employee training
• Marketing and promotional flair

Drinks Pub Company of the Year

The judges will look for clear evidence of:

• Financial success of the pub company, and the drinks operation in particular
• Good relationship with suppliers
• Innovation in all drinks categories
• Commitment to customer service
• Commitment to employee training
• Marketing and promotional flair