Member Article

Yorkshire Pub Group Shortlisted for Two Coveted Awards

A Yorkshire pub group which earlier this year won Best Wine Bar/Pub in the UK is an early favourite to claim not one, but two prestigious awards in early 2016.

Ainsty’s flagship pub, The Chequers Inn at Bilton-in-Ainsty near York, has reaffirmed its status as one of the nation’s best pubs after being shortlisted for a national Gastropub Award. Ainsty Inns is also shortlisted for Yorkshire’s Independent Business of the Year Award.

Tom Throup, General Manager at The Chequers Inn, has been included on a three-person shortlist for one of three specialist awards – ‘Front of House Manager of the Year’.

Organised by The Publican’s Morning Advertiser and now in their eighth year, the awards are established as the leading event for the premium end of the UK food-led pub trade and are judged by an academy panel made up of top industry experts.

The Chequers Inn’s inclusion on the shortlist follows its success in the Great British Pub Awards in September when the pub was named the nation’s ‘Best Wine Bar/Pub.’

Two Michellin-starred celebrity chef, Tom Kerridge, will host the awards ceremony next month and said: “These awards are about recognising the great work of pub chefs and the strength of great British pub food. I’m proud to be a part of it again and I can’t wait to see who will take the number one spot next year.”

Tom Throup at The Chequers Inn said: “I’m incredibly proud to have made the final three for the Front of House Manager of the Year award!

“This award recognises not only the exceptional food we have on offer, but also the outstanding level of service we provide our customers. We are committed to constantly finding new ways to improve the customer experience and frequently reinvest in staff training.

“After an incredible year we hope to go from strength to strength in 2016 and look forward to many more proud moments for the Group!”

Ainsty Group, which also owns The Swan & Talbot at Wetherby and The Beehive at Thorner under the Ainsty Inns brand, is also celebrating following its inclusion on the shortlist for the regional Yorkshire Choice Awards.

Ainsty Inns has been shortlisted in the ‘Yorkshire’s Independent Business of the Year’ category. The awards are a celebration of achievement in Yorkshire and were established to recognise local people and businesses who are an inspiration in their field.

The awards ceremony and gala dinner will be hosted at Leeds United’s Centenary Pavilion on 2 April 2016. The event will also raise funds to support Martin House Children’s Hospice who work to improve the lives of children and young people with life limiting illnesses, across Yorkshire.

The 2016 Gastropub Awards specialist category winners will be announced alongside a Top 50 list of the nation’s best gastropubs at Anglican Country Inns’ Hermitage Road Bar & Kitchen in Hertfordshire on 25 January.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Acceleris .