Fifty top hospitality professionals have been honoured as the best in their industry in the North of England, as part of Northern Restaurant & Bar, held at Manchester Central on 18-19 March 2014.
The third annual NRB Top 50 list was chosen by the exhibition organisers and a panel of industry experts from the Russell Partnership, strategic consultancy specialising in the catering, conferencing, events and leisure markets.
The NRB Top 50 List includes individuals in hospitality operations who are based in the North and have excelled within their field within the last year either in commercial terms (expansion and growth, innovation, financial results, employment and training), critical terms (awards, reviews, plaudits, customer feedback, positive trade and consumer press), or through their wider impact on the industry (mentoring, education, training, charity, associations, tourism, external projects, general altruism and CSR).
Special achievements winners
From the complete list, three special achievement winners are honoured for their exceptional accomplishments. This year the recipients are:
Paul Askew, Chef Patron of The London Carriageworks and The Art School
Paul is an exemplary food and drink ambassador for the region, and his passionate commitment not only to his own ventures but to supporting initiatives for training, tourism and broader hospitality industry excellence is absolutely unparalleled.
Tim Bacon & Jeremy Roberts of Living Ventures
In Living Ventures, Tim and Jeremy have built a passionate and evangelical team and developed an awe-inspiring model for success which has redefined the dining out landscape across the North and is making significant inroads across the UK.
Marc Wilkinson, Chef Patron of Restaurant Fraiche
Restaurant Fraiche is a testament to what can be achieved with one man’s relentless and single-minded pursuit of brilliance and Marc is a shining star for the North of England capable of matching the best that the UK has to offer.
The 2014 NRB Top 50 are:
** New entries for 2014
Paul Askew, Chef Patron, The London Carriageworks
Mohammed Aslam MBE, Owner, Aagrah Group
Tim Bacon, Managing Director & Jeremy Roberts, Commercial Director, Living Ventures
Craig Bancroft, Joint MD & Nigel Haworth, Chef Patron, Northcote Manor
**John Benson-Smith, Consultant Chef, Manchester City Football Club
**Tim Bilton, Chef Patron, The Spiced Pear
Ken Buckley, Managing Director, Bravo Inns
**Mark Cain, Owner, Velvet
Marie Carter & Beau Myers, Owner, Beautiful Drinks
Morgan Davies, Founder / Joint CEO, Barburrito
Carlo Distefano, Chairman, & Marcello,Distefano, Managing Director, San Carlo Group
**James Douglas & Scott Munro, Co Owner / Director, Reds
Mal Evans, Director, MOJO Bar
Cleo Farman, Owner, Odd Group
Ged Feltham, Owner, Leelex
Jobe Ferguson & Ross Mckenzie, Director, Blackdog
Duncan Fisher, Owner, Apartment Group
David Fox & Nick Jeffrey, Owner, Tampopo
**Kevin Georgel, Managing Director, Admiral Taverns
**Alex Hannah, Director, Lucha Libre
Jonny Heyes, Owner, Port Street Beer House
**James & Karina Hitchen, Managing Director, Neighbourhood/Southern 11
Terry Laybourne, Chef Patron, 21 Hospitality Group
William Lees Jones, Managing Director, JW Lees
**Mike Magrane, General Manager, Q Hotels
Colin Manning, Managing Partner & Gary Manning, Chef Patron, 60 Hope St
**Gary McClarnan, Co Owner / Managing Director, Teacup Kitchen & Teacup Bakery
**James Mackenzie, Chef Patron, Pipe and Glass
Stephen Miles, General Manager, Radisson Blu Edwardian Manchester
Dave Mooney & Paul Newman, Owner, New Moon Pub Company
**Joyceln Neve, Managing Director, Seafood Pub Company
**Andrew Nutter, Chef Patron, Nutters
Eamonn O’Loughlin, Owner, Eclectic Hotels
Si Ord, Owner, Sandinista
Andrew Pern, Chef Patron, The Star at Harome
**Steve Pilling, Director & Simon Stanley, Director, Damson Group
**Simon Rimmer, Chef Patron, Greens/Flying Pig and Lobster
Oliver Robinson, Managing Director & Peter Robinson, Chairman, Frederic Robinson
Simon Rogan, Chef Patron, L’Enclume & Roganic
Jonathan Slater, General Manager, Chester Grosvenor
Richard Smith, Chef Patron, Relax, Eat & Drink
Nick Taplin, Managing Director, Sanguine Hospitality
Steven Walker, CEO, Individual Restaurant Company
**Jonathan Ward, Director, Company Value Ltd
Roger Ward, Owner, The Victorian Chop House Company
**Marc Wilkinson, Chef Patron, Restaurant Fraiche
Joel Wilkinson, Owner, Trof
Martin Wolstencraft, Managing Director, Arc Inspirations
**James Wrigley, Managing Director, Fluid Bars
Stewart Yip, Owner, Red Chilli
For more information and to submit nominations for 2015, visit www.nrbtop50.co.uk or follow on twitter @NRBtop50