Punch has celebrated the pub group’s leading business and hospitality innovators in the East Midlands and Yorkshire areas at this year’s Regional Publican of the Year Awards.
Held at one of Punch’s own pubs, the Great Northern in Mickleover, Derby, the event saw over 70 people attend to celebrate their business’ success.
Now in its third year, the ceremony is the brainchild of Punch’s regional director, Steve Burns (pictured left), with accolades Publican of the Year and Special Recognition among many of the highlights. The awards help to further establish the relationship between Punch and its Publicans by congratulating them on all they have achieved.
Awards were broken down by areas, starting with the Punch development managers’ shortlist of their nominated Publicans, each selected for showcasing ‘best pub practice’. This was followed by the grand finale of Punch crowning the overall winners on the night.
Steve Burns commented, “We’re thrilled to be able to celebrate our Publicans’ successes and have been delighted by the feedback provided by the Punch development managers. Their role is to not only advise the Publicans on how they can achieve their business goals but to also strengthen Punch’s own connection with the Publicans to provide the best support possible.
'The Publicans have shown a continued commitment to running outstanding pubs over the last 12 months and the awards provide a great opportunity to celebrate their successes and strengthen the relationship we have with our talented Publicans.”
CEO of Punch, Duncan Garrood (pictured centre), addressed Publicans at the awards ceremony, emphasising his pride of the fantastic achievements across the portfolio of pubs and recognising that Publicans are the soul of the Punch business.
Winners:
· Regional Publican of the Year Winner: Allison Lund (pictured right) from the Waterloo, Wakefield
· Newcomer Award: – Andy Longworth & Claire Fleetwood from the Blacksmiths, Doncaster
· Lifetime Achievement Award: Steve Callaghan from Three Horseshoes, Coalville
· Newcomer Award: Beccy Webster from the Blacks Head, Carlton
· Mystery Guest Awards: Henry & Kitty Wagg from the Crown & Glove, Sheffield
· Service Hero Award: Steve Cave from the Risley Park in Derby (this award is for a member of staff who works in the pub and has impressed a Punch representative)
For the full list of winners, go to Awards Winners rollover in the right hand column.