2023 Finalists

Many pub companies entered The Publican Awards this year, and have been put through our rigorous judging process to determine the very best in the nation. We're very pleased to share with you this year's shortlisted finalists below.

Good luck to all our finalists in the challenging competition ahead, and commiserations to those that didn’t get through – this competition is not an easy one and we appreciate the efforts of all who look to enter.

The winners will be named at The Publican Awards event on 29 March 2023.

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Best Accommodation Operator

This award will be presented to a pub company that has focused on offering accommodation as a key part of their business. Accommodation will play a significant part in contributing to the company’s profits and helping drive trade. The finalists are:

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


Best Brewing Pub Company

This award recognises companies who operate both a successful brewery and a managed or tenanted/leased pub estate or both. The company will have between 2 and 150 pub sites. The finalists are:

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


Best Community Pub Operator

The winning company will have a successful pub estate of community focused pubs – community focused meaning trade predominantly targets local rather than destination customers. The finalists are:

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


Best Drinks Offer

This award will be presented to a pub company that demonstrates drinks retail excellence, with drink sales a key part of the company’s total profits. The finalists are:

  • Albion & East
  • Casa Hotels
  • The Alchemist


Best Food Offer

This award will be presented to a pub company that delivers a successful mainstream food offer across their estate, with food a key part of the company’s total sales. This award is open to companies which average food price for a two course meal (Starter/Dessert and Main) is from £12.50 to £25 per head. The finalists are:

  • Brucan Pubs
  • The Botanist
  • Barons Pub Company


Best Late Night Operator

This award will be presented to a pub company with late licenses whose core offer is built around the late night sector. The finalists are:

  • Nightcap
  • REKOM
  • Revolution
  • Stonegate Group


Best Managed Pub Company

This award will be presented to a highly successful managed retail estate, which has shown strong innovation and business performance in the past year. The finalists are:

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


Best New Site

The winning pub site will have opened during the past 24 months. The site will either be a new-build pub or substantial re-development and entrants must demonstrate evidence of how effectively trade has been built at the site. The finalists are:

  • Cheshire Cat Pubs & Inns - 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

This award will be presented to a pub company that delivers a successful premium food offer across their estate, with food a key part of the company’s total sales. This award is open to companies which average food price for a two course meal (Starter/Dessert and Main) is above £25 per head. The finalists are:

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


Best Pub Brand/Concept

This award will be presented to a pub company that presents a very strong and definitive brand offering. The finalists are:

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


Best Pub Employer (501+ Employees)

This award will be presented to the pub company that provides an excellent working environment for employees including comprehensive training, strong staff motivation and benefits and a meaningful career path/development structure for employees. The finalists are:

  • Greene King
  • Stonegate Group


Best Pub Employer (Up to 500 Employees)

This award will be presented to the pub company that provides an excellent working environment for employees including comprehensive training, strong staff motivation and benefits and a meaningful career path/development structure for employees. The finalists are:

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


Best Pub Operations Team

This award will be presented to the pub company that has the best pub operations team. The finalists are:

  • Barons Pub Company
  • REKOM
  • Punch & Pubs Co.


Best Sustainable Pub Company

This award will be presented to a pub company that demonstrates a significant and concerted effort to reduce its waste. This includes the reduction and / or redistribution of food waste; energy reduction and management; plastics and single use items. The finalists are:

  • Mitchells & Butlers
  • Marston's
  • The Alchemist

Best Tenanted / Leased Pub Company (Up to 500 Sites)

This award will be presented to a highly successful tenanted or leased retail estate. The finalists are:

  • Fuller, Smith & Turner
  • Marston's
  • Wells & Co.


Best Tenanted / Leased Pub Company (501+ Sites)

This award will be presented to a highly successful tenanted or leased retail estate. The finalists are:

  • Admiral Taverns
  • Greene King



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