This year, pub companies from across the country rose to the challenge and entered The Publican Awards, putting themselves through our rigorous judging process to showcase the very best in the business. We’re delighted to reveal the shortlisted finalists below.
A huge congratulations to all those who made the list! Your hard work and dedication have truly set you apart. For those who didn’t make it this time, thank you for your commitment and effort. The competition is tough, and your contribution to the industry is valued and appreciated.
The winners will be named at The Publican Awards awards night held at Evolution London on 25 March 2026.
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:
- Chickpea Group
- Stay Original
- Chestnut
- Cheshire Cat Pubs and Bars Ltd
- Heartwood Inns
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:
- Robinsons Brewery
- Joule's Brewery
- Butcombe Brewing Co
- Everards of Leicestershire
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:
- Proper Pubs
- Craft Union Pub Company
- Stonegate Group - LGBTQ+ venues
- Oak Taverns
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:
- Cheshire Cat Pubs and Bars Ltd
- Ardent Pub Group
- Brewdog PLC
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:
- Longbow Venues
- Wadworth
- Urban Pubs and Bars
This award will be presented to the business that has committed to an immersive, interactive offer across all aspects while also demonstrating strong sales growth and innovation. The finalists are:
- NEOS Hospitality
- Laine Pubs
- Professionals at Play
- Incipio Group
Best Managed Pub Company (2 - 50 sites)
This award will be presented to a highly successful managed retail estate with 2 - 50 sites, which has shown strong innovation and business performance in the past year. The finalists are:
- Coaching Inn Group
- Parogon Group
- St Austell Brewery
- ETM Group
- Upham Inns Ltd
Best Managed Pub Company (51+ sites)
This award will be presented to a highly successful managed retail estate with 51+ sites, which has shown strong innovation and business performance in the past year. The finalists are:
- Urban Pubs and Bars
- McMullen and Sons
- Mitchells & Butlers
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:
- Babble - Vicarious Pub Co and the Crafthouse Collective
- The White Horse & Bower - Shepherd Neame
- The Station House - Almond Pubs
- Molly Mcs - Windmill Taverns
- The Mitre Inn - Glastonbury Pubs
- The Hoxton Hound - Brewhouse and Kitchen
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
- Ardent Pub Group
- Cubitt House
- Parogon Group
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:
- BOX (Arc Inspirations)
- Roxy Leisure
- King Pins
- NEOS Hospitality
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:
- Chestnut
- Butcombe Group
- Signature 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:
- Longbow Venues
- Barons Pub Company Ltd
- Portobello Pubs and Bars
- Cubitt House
Best Pub Operations Team
This award will be presented to the pub company that has the best pub operations team. The finalists are:
- Craft Union Pub Company
- Anglian Country Inns
- Hickory's Smokehouse
- Proper Pubs
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:
- St Austell Brewery
- Wells & Co.
- Ardent Pub Group
Best Partnership Pub Company (Up to 500 Sites)
This award will be presented to a highly successful tenanted or leased retail estate. The finalists are:
- Laine Pubs
- Wells & Co
Best Partnership Pub Company (501+ Sites)
This award will be presented to a highly successful tenanted or leased retail estate. The finalists are:
- Punch Pubs & Co
- Greene King
- Craft Union Pub Company
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