MAGAZINE

United in success

You may have seen that the National Pub & Bar Awards took place last month. We mentioned it a few times. As always, it was a big celebration of the industry as a whole, as well as almost 100 individual operations that are thriving within it. 

Throughout the awards ceremony in London, it’s my job to stand to the side of the stage and congratulate Regional Winners as they make their way forward to collect their trophy. From under the lights, you get a front row seat to witness how the rest of the County Winners in the room are reacting to each award announcement – given they are all in the running for a regional gong, there’s a strong chance of disappointment clearly showing itself.

But you know what? I’d argue that this year demonstrated the strongest collective support for each winner that we’ve ever seen. Keep in mind that a total of 94 venues from across all of the UK’s counties are up for just 15 regional titles – those aren’t fantastic odds. And yet as each Regional Winner was announced, the level of applause and cheers heard throughout 30 Euston Square was a clear representation of a brilliant industry that’s united over cooperative success.

What’s even more reassuring is that after the awards were announced and the 300-strong audience made its way into the afterparty, I wasn’t greeted by any disgruntled operators who hadn’t been called onto the stage that night – plenty of County Winners introduced themselves, but mainly to talk about the positive difference that the county title had made to their operation since it was awarded to them back in April. A few asked for pointers on how they could improve next year, already with their eye on returning to the capital to take home that regional honour. That’s what we like to see – and we can’t wait to read all about those venues when the National Pub & Bar Awards returns in 2024.

Tristan O’Hana - Editor