The Greene King team are celebrating after winning three prestigious awards at the ‘Oscars of the pubs industry’.
The Publican Awards 2021 held a virtual ceremony and Greene King was named best community pub operator and best leased and tenanted pub company, with chief executive Nick Mackenzie also winning business leader of the year for what judges described as ‘being instrumental in impressively steering his business through choppy waters’.
After receiving the award Mackenzie told the Morning Advertiser, “I never expect these things, of course I’m pleased but a massive shoutout to my team. They absolutely were great. Every single one of our employees were great and hopefully they will see the benefit of this award too.
'It has been a crazy two years since joining Greene King as CEO but I have absolutely loved it. Really enjoyed being back in the industry. I've learnt masses as a leader over the past 12 months and the industry as a whole has done an incredible job too amid the pandemic.'
Greene King’s leased and tenanted pubs division Pub Partners looks after 1,000 independent publicans across the UK. It was praised by judges for looking after its tied pub tenants during the Covid-19 pandemic, which judges said was especially impressive ‘given the size and scale of the task’.
Reacting on the night, Greene King Pub Partners managing director Wayne Shurvinton said, “The team and I are absolutely delighted. They’ve done a phenomenal job over the last 12 months and to win this award means a lot to us and it means a lot to our licensees as well.”
The Greene King Local Pubs division runs more than 600 pubs across England, Scotland and Wales and were delighted to be named community pub operator of the year.
Managing director Clair Preston-Beer said, “Our pubs are at the heart of their communities which makes it such an honour to be recognised in this way. This award belongs to all our pubs and the entire team who have worked so hard over the past year to have their local communities at the forefront of everything they do.”
Ed Bedington, editor of The Morning Advertiser, which organises the awards, said, “This year’s event has certainly been different, going from a gathering of 1,500 in Battersea to an online ceremony in the virtual world, but the ethos remains the same – celebrating excellence and there’s plenty to celebrate.
“Many companies, having faced the challenges and disasters of 2020 could be forgiven for pulling down the shutters and sitting the crisis out. Our finalists tonight, and many others in the sector, did the exact opposite of that, rose to the challenge and did some amazing things.
“We wanted to continue with the awards this year to recognise those businesses that made sacrifices and strove to not just keep going, but to improve and thrive in the teeth of a brutal storm.
“Here’s to next year when companies can get back to doing what they do best, providing outstanding hospitality experiences for their guests.”
Greene King was also shortlisted on the night for best employer, best food offer for its Chef & Brewer brand and best premium food offer for its Metropolitan Pub Company brand.