The NRB Top 50 2015, in association with Kuits, has been announced and features a vibrant mix of long-established names and up and coming operators, 90% of whom are planning yet more launches and expansion in the region.
This show of confidence echoes news from leading leisure consultants CGA Peach that the restaurant scenes of city centres like Manchester and Leeds are expanding faster than that of London.
Three special achievement awards were also made, to Nigel Haworth and Craig Bancroft of Northcote, William Lees Jones of JW Lees, and Jonathan Slater of the Chester Grosvenor.
Thom Hetherington, CEO of organisers Holden Media, says, “We received a record number of entrants to the NRB Top 50 this year, making judging an incredibly difficult process.
“The North seems to be flavour of the month amongst national and international operators at the moment, but we feel it is fundamentally important that we recognise those home-grown operators who are achieving huge levels of critical acclaim and commercial success and driving employment, training and investment in the region. Not least amongst those are our three special award winners.”
The three special award winners
Of the three special award winners, Jonathan Slater was recognised for more than thirty years of the very highest standards as GM and MD of the Chester Grosvenor as he retires at the end of March; William Lees Jones was picked out for taking JW Lees, an established but conventional brewery business, and reshaping it for the 21st Century with an emphasis on food and more contemporary brands, but no loss of its integrity and tradition; and finally Nigel Haworth and Craig Bancroft’s award was made for their staggering levels of success and longevity at Northcote, and their undimmed ambitions which have taken in major capital projects, a growing pub estate and the spectacular Obsessions chef festival.
Sponsors
As well as headline sponsors Kuits licensing solicitors and long term supporters The Russell Partnership, new sponsors for this year include accountancy firm BDO and property agents Tushingham Moore Leisure. This hand-picked panel of Northern hospitality experts in the fields of hospitality finance, property, law and consultancy deliberated and cogitated through hours of research and judging. The prestige of sealing a place on the list matters more than ever with those included becoming part of the influential NRB Top 50 Alumni association as well as receiving VIP invitations to events including the exclusive NRB Debate and the Too Many Critics Manchester dinner.
The invitation only NRB Top 50 awards reception takes place at 3:15pm on 17 March at Northern Restaurant & Bar, the largest hospitality exhibition outside London. It also forms part of Northern Hospitality Week (NHW), five days of class-leading industry debates and special one-off business events. As well the awards and the exhibition this includes the NRB Debate as well as industry charity dinners such as Action Against Hunger’s Too Many Critics Manchester, a host of industry association meetings and visitor discounts and special offers in bars and restaurants.
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The NRB Top 50 2015 Powerlist (listed alphabetically)
- Martin Ainscough, Owner, Ainscoughs
- Mark Andrew, Owner, Mark Andrew Developments
- Sax Arshad, Director, Mughli
- Haz Arshad, Director, Mughli
- Paul Askew, Chef Patron, The Art School
- Mohammed Aslam, Owner, Aagrah Group
- Tim Bacon, CEO, Living Ventures
- Jeremy Roberts, Director, Living Ventures
- Craig Bancroft, Managing Director, Northcote
- Nigel Haworth, Chef Patron, Northcote
- Ken Buckley, Managing Director, Bravo Inns
- Marie Carter, Owner, Beautiful Drinks
- Beau Myers, Owner, Beautiful Drinks
- Sue Crimes, Chief Executive Officer, Gusto
- Morgan Davies, Founder, Barburrito
- Jimmy Del Giudice, Operations Director, Revolution Bars Group Plc
- Mark Mcquater, CEO, Revolution Bars Group Plc
- Carlo Distefano, Chairman, San Carlo Group
- Marcello Distefano, Managing Director, San Carlo Group
- James Douglas, Co-Owner, Reds True Bbq
- Scott Munro, Co-Owner, Reds True Bbq
- Roy Ellis, Director, Flying Pig & Lobster
- Neil Macleod, Director, Flying Pig & Lobster
- Simon Rimmer, Chef Patron, Flying Pig & Lobster
- Mal Evans, Owner, Mojo
- Cleo Farman, Owner, Odd Bar
- Ged Feltham, Managing Director, Leelex
- Jobe Ferguson, Co-Director, Black Dog / The Liars Club Group
- Ross McKenzie, Co-Director, Black Dog / The Liars Club Group
- Duncan Fisher, Owner, The Apartment Group
- Kevin Georgel, CEO, Admiral Taverns
- Lyndon Higginson, Co-Director, The Liars Club Group
- James Hitchen, Managing Director, Neighbourhood / Southern 11
- Karina Jadhav, Director, Neighbourhood / Southern 11
- Chris Hopkins, Managing Director, Hydes Brewery
- Terry Laybourne, Chef Patron, 21 Hospitality Group
- William Lees Jones, Managing Director, JW Lees
- Mike Magrane, General Manager, The Midland
- Colin Manning, Managing Partner, 60 Hope Street
- Gary Manning, Chef Patron, 60 Hope Street
- Tomas Maunier, Director, Fazenda Rodizio Bar & Grill
- Robert Melman, Director, Fazenda Rodizio Bar & Grill
- James Mackenzie, Chef Patron, Pipe And Glass
- Stephen Miles, General Manager, Radisson Blu Edwardian Manchester
- David Mooney, Co-Owner, New Moon Co
- Paul Newman, Co-Owner, New Moon Co
- Joycelyn Neve, Managing Director, Seafood Pub Company
- Eamonn O’Loughlin, Owner, Eclectic Hotels
- Si Ord, Owner, Sandinista
- Andrew Pern, Chef Patron, The Star At Harome / Star Inn The City
- Steve Pilling, Director, Damson Group
- Simon Stanley, Director, Damson Group
- Jonathan Poole, Director, Red And Blue
- Paddy Smith, Director, Red And Blue
- Oliver Robinson , Managing Director, Frederic Robinson
- Simon Rogan, Chef Patron, L’enclume
- Jonathan Slater, General Manager, The Chester Grosvenor
- Richard Smith, Chef Patron, Brewkitchen
- Martin Stead, Co-Owner, The Thai Restaurant Group
- Kim Stead, Co-Owner, The Thai Restaurant Group
- Martin Wolstencroft, Managing Director, Arc Inspirations
- Chris Ure, Owner, Arc Inspirations
- Steven Walker, CEO, Individual Restaurants
- Jonathan Ward, Director,The House Of Adventure Group
- Roger Ward, Owner, The Victorian Chophouse Company
- Joel Wilkinson, Owner, Trof
- Marc Wilkinson, Chef Patron, Restaurant Fraiche
- Stewart Yip, Owner, Red Chilli