Joseph Holt Pub Awards 2016
On Wednesday 23rd March 2016 we welcomed back pub managers, head office staff and sponsors to our 2nd annual Pub Awards Ceremony at Haydock Race Park.
After launching the Pub Awards in 2014 with the first ever ceremony being held in March 2015 to huge success and support, we came back bigger and better than ever.
This year we had 10 categories: Best Food Pub Restaurant Division, Serve with Style Pub Restaurant Division, Best Wet Pub, Best Kept Cellar, Best Bar Team, Best Food Pub Community Pub Division, Serve with Style Community Pub Division, Training Champions, Pub of The Year Pub Restaurant Division and Pub of The Year Community Pub Division.
We also had a special award this year for members of staff that have gone above and beyond for their pub and three incredible team members from pubs across the entire estate stood out above the rest to take 3rd, 2nd and 1st place in the Special Recognition Award.
Without further hesitation this year’s winners are as follows:
Best Food Pub Restaurant Division sponsored by Woodward Foodservice:
Nominees: The Angel, The Griffin, Horse and Jockey, The Imperial, The Marshmill Tavern, The Richmond, The Roebuck, The Stonemill and The Woodthorpe.
Winners are:
3rd Place – The Marshmill Tavern, Katrina McCarron
2nd Place- The Woodthorpe, Liz Hardman
1st Place – The Richmond, Mike Gauder, Chris Pilling and Jessica Lucas
Serve with Style Pub Restaurant Division sponsored by Kelly’s Eye and Regal:
Nominees: The Angel, The Marshmill Tavern, The Richmond, The Roebuck, The Stonemill and The Woodthorpe.
Winners are:
3rd Place – The Richmond, Mike Gauder, Chris Pilling and Jessica Lucas
2nd Place- The Marshmill Tavern, Katrina McCarron
1st Place – The Angel, Chloe Dickinson
Best Wet Pub Sponsored by SKY:
Nominees: The Gardner’s Arms, The Goat’s Gate, The Newall Green, The Old Bull’s Head, The Old Monkey, The Ostrich, The Railway Inn and The Spread Eagle.
Winners are:
3rd Place – The Goat’s Gate, Christine and Roy Counsell
2nd Place- The Newall Green, Sarah and Shaun Ratcliffe
1st Place – The Old Bull’s Head, Tina and Andrew Edge
Best Bar Team sponsored by Coca Cola:
Nominees: The Abbey, The Eagle and Child, The Gardner’s Arms, The Goat’s Gate, The Old Bull’s Head, The Railway Inn, The Silverwell, and The Wilton Arms.
Winners are:
3rd Place – The Gardner’s Arms, Valerie Armstrong
2nd Place- The Wilton Arms, Lisa McCormick
1st Place – The Abbey, Mark Youd
Best Food Pub Community Division sponsored by Woodward Food Services:
Nominees: Cock O’Budworth, The Crown and Anchor, The Friendship, The Melville and The Norfolk Arms.
Winners are:
3rd Place – Cock O’Budworth, Karen & Peter Gregory
2nd Place – The Crown & Anchor, Danny Watson
1st Place – The Friendship, Gary & Gaynor Hindley
Serve with Style Community Division sponsored by Walkers:
Nominees: Cock O’Budworth, The Crown & Anchor, The Friendship, The Melville and The Norfolk Arms.
Winners are:
3rd Place – The Melville, Danny Wilson
2nd Place – Cock O’Budworth, Karen and Peter Gregory
1st Place – The Norfolk Arms, Carol Midgley
Best Kept Cellar sponsored by Joseph Holt:
Nominees: The Abbey, The Brigadier, The Dukes Gate, The Forester’s, The Gardner’s Arms, The Newall Green, The Railway Inn, and The Sun and Castle
Winners are:
3rd Place – Railway Inn, Sophie Daniel
2nd Place – Sun and Castle, Harry Bell
1st Place – The Abbey, Mark Youd
Training Champions sponsored by Diageo:
Nominees: The Black Dog, The Blue Bell, The Cart and Horses, The Horse and Jockey, The Imperial, The Railway Inn, The Roebuck, and Wyldes.
Winners are:
3rd Place – Wyldes, Theresa Johnston
2nd Place – The Horse & Jockey, Claire Lockhart
1st Place – The Blue Bell, Steve and Vicky Henry
Special Recognition Award sponsored by Centre Glass and Hygiene:
Nominees: We had over 30 recommendations for the special recognition award and competition was tight but there were three stand-out winners for our judges.
Winners are:
3rd Place – Michelle Prestage from The Crown and Anchor. Over the past 8 years, Michelle has become a trusted, loyal, hardworking member of staff and assistant manager. Described by Danny Watson, her manager as his right arm. Michelle is always on hand and happily takes on increasing responsibilities without complaint. Working hard to ensure the day to day business at the Crown and Anchor runs smoothly, and that the customers are happy and well looked after.
2nd Place – Linda Borkin from The Goat’s Gate: Linda is an invaluable member of the Goat’s team. Always taking time to take new members of staff under her wing, offering help, support and guidance, and always on hand to take a last minute shift. Linda has worked within Joseph Holt for 28 years and settled at the Goat’s Gate in 2011 and has been there ever since. Linda solely raised £1000 for the Christie Charity appeal and always goes above and beyond the call of duty.
1st Place – Jean Standing from The Roebuck: Jean has worked at the Roebuck for over 40 years!! In that time, she has never missed a shift, been late or absent due to illness. Jean is well known and loved by all the regular customers. Her overwhelming support and commitment to The Roebuck in supporting staff and attending every organised event has never wavered. She truly embodies the spirit of the Roebuck Team.
Pub Restaurant Division Pub of The Year sponsored by Heineken: The Richmond, Mike Gauder, Chris Pilling and Jessica Lucas
Community Pub Division Pub of The Year sponsored by Diageo: The Abbey, Mark Youd
The Awards were another huge success and we would like to thank all of our sponsor’s whom, without their support the ceremony would not be possible.
A massive congratulations to all the winners and all who attended because out of 80+ applications it was a tremendous achievement to make it to the event and into the semi-finalist round.
Once again we were overwhelmed by the hard work and exceptional service all our pubs and their managers provide on a daily basis.
We will see you all again next year. I think we are going to need a bigger boat!!
To view all of the event’s pictures, please visit our Joseph Holt Facebook Page and don’t forget to Like our page for all the latest news, special offers and events.
