On 7th September, we welcomed the prestigious Joseph Holt pub awards ceremony to Haydock Racecourse. This year was our biggest turnout ever, with no less than 300 people in attendance. Members of our pub teams, area managers, brewery staff and the Joseph Holt fifth and sixth generation were all in attendance.

Every year there are various awards up for grabs; from the Best Kept Cellar all the way to Pub of the Year.

This year we had 3 new awards, “Heart of the Community” award, which highlights which pubs are giving back the most to the local area and the people who live in it, a very good cause. The second new award is “Chef of the year”, as our food menu has gone from strength to strength, the heat has been turned up as our food chefs compete for this title. The final new award was Assistant Manager/Supervisor of the Year; an award celebrating our assistants and supervisors who work tirelessly supporting their pubs every day.

We’d like to thank all our sponsors for their donations to make this day even more special.

So without further ado, let’s get down to business and announce the winners.

The Awards

Newcomer of the Year – sponsored by Budweiser

(Wet) Winner = Tom Costin, Ye Golden Lion

(Food) Winner = Brian & Donna Holroyd, The Quadrant

Front of House Team Member of the Year – sponsored by Quintessential Brands

Third Place = Lisa Crielly, Grey Horse

Second Place = Kerry Lee, Norfolk Arms

Winner = Ann Saxelby, Half Way House Blackpool

Back of House Team Member of the Year – sponsored by TSG

Third Place = Ryan Kilshaw, The Roebuck

Second Place = Eduardo Da Silva, The Imperial

Winner = Keegan Heenan, Blue Bell, Bury

Assistant Manager/Supervisor of the Year – sponsored by Ralph Livesey

Third Place = Angela West, The Roebuck

Second Place = Jackie Watson, Church Inn

Winner = Kamila Barkowska, The Imperial

Chef of the Year – sponsored by Underwood Meat Company

Third Place = Theresa Padington, The Norfolk Arms

Second Place = Gary Thomson, The Legh Arms

Winner = James Jowitt, Water’s Edge

Biggest Increase in Joseph Holt Volumes – sponsored by Centre Glass

Third Place = Quadrant

Second Place = Red Lion, Prestwich

Winner = Silverwell

Best Wet Team – sponsored by Heineken.

Third Place = Hare & Hounds

Second Place = Grey Horse

Winner = Blue Bell, Moston

Best Kept Cellar – sponsored by Joseph Holt

Third Place = Blue Bell, Moston

Second Place = Atherton Arms

Winner = Park, Monton

Most Improved Cellar – sponsored by Fresh Start

Third Place = Ye Golden Lion

Second Place = Eagle & Child

Winner = Hayfield

Best Food Team – sponsored by Brakes

Third Place = Morning Star

Second Place =Hayfield

Winner = Millhouse

Standards of Excellence – sponsored by Coca Cola

There is one wet pub and one food pub winner in this category, this award was mystery judged by Coca Cola representatives

Third Place (Wet) = Sun & Castle

Second Place (Wet) = New Grove Inn

Winner (Wet) = Church Inn

 

Third Place (Food) = Half Way House, Blackpool

Second Place (Food) = Crown and Anchor

Winner (Food) = Water’s Edge

Marketing Pub of the Year – sponsored by TNT Sports

Third Place (Wet) = Bird in Hand

Second Place (Wet) = Grey Horse

Winner (Wet) = New Grove Inn

 

Third Place (Food) = Millhouse

Second Place (Food) = Eagle & Child

Winner (Food) = Hayfield

Heart of the Community – sponsored by WDS

Third Place = Fairway Inn

Second Place = Millhouse

Winner = Frigate

Pub of the Year – sponsored by SKY

Winner = Hayfield