MAGAZINE

Awards season

“It’s always nice to get nominated, but it’d be better if we won of course,” says Adam Mayers, managing director of Hydes Brewery, through a cheery laugh. The main man at Hydes is talking to me for this issue’s lead interview (page 20), and is referencing the nomination the business received for Pub Group of the Year at the 2025 National Pub & Bar Awards.

Ultimately, Camerons went on to secure the title, which is decided by thousands of pub and bar goers from around the UK, courtesy of data from CGA, but Mayers was still delighted to be in the top five pub groups for that year. And so he should be. The dataset is vast and impressive, so to be one of the five that are invited to the National Pub & Bar Awards is no mean feat.

I commend how gracious Mayers was/is about not winning the accolade, as it doesn’t always go that way – understandably, hospitality businesses are passionate about recognition from the industry, and the immediate aftermath of being told they haven’t won can often feature some, let’s just say, ‘frustrated’ interactions (and don’t even get me started on some of the social media comments we receive). 

But, you know what, it’s almost justified. Almost. Now more than ever. This is because while it’s always nice to get that pat on the back from those within the sector, savvy operators know what awards can do for business, particularly awards that penetrate beyond trade and into consumer press, which is what the National Pub & Bar Awards can do.

We’re sending this magazine to the printers the same day that we announce this year’s County Nominees, and the replies we have already received from those elated operators had one common theme – how welcome the news was during such a challenging time for the sector. It just goes to show how valuable awards season can be. 

Tristan O’Hana - Editor