Publican Award winners for 2025

The boutique pub group scooped the prize for Best Operations Team, Best Drinks Offer and Best Food Offer.

Hosted by top presenter Claudia Winkleman at Evolution London in Battersea, the industry’s equivalent of the Oscars recognised a wide range of businesses for outstanding work in the face of challenging circumstances on Wednesday 26 March.

At the awards, Laine Pub Company was named Best Late Night Operator and Best Partnership Pub Company.

Seeing success in the Best Late Night offer category, Laine’s Russell Danks said: “We give people a great time out, they forget to go home. This is for the people of London, Brighton and Norwich.”

Founder Gavin George added receiving the accolade was a career highlight and praised the work of Russell and the whole Laine team.

This year’s Best New Site was awarded to Arc Inspirations’ site BOX venue in Nottingham while Craft Union Pub Company took the title of Best Community Pub Operator and Mitchells & Butlers was honoured with the Best Sustainable Pub Company award.

Admiral Taverns’ boss Chris Jowsey was also recognised on the night, being awarded Business Leader of the Year, voted for by operators across the sector.

When asked which meant more to him, Newcastle United winning the Carabao Cup or him winning this award, Jowsey said: “This is a big Dan Burn (Newcastle defender) moment for me and I’m really appreciative.

“A good coach should recognise the whole team and we have a fantastic team.

“Community pubs are what it’s all about for us at Admiral and the country would be bereft without them.

“I’m really positive (about the future). We adapt to everything. It would be so wonderful if everyone could value the social and economic impact pubs have.”

The Morning Advertiser editor Ed Bedington congratulated all of the 2025 Publican Awards winners and finalists.

He added: “Particularly to Cheshire Cat for pulling off the impressive feat of wining all three of its categories.

“These awards celebrate the best in the business and recognised operators performing at the very top of their game.

“The pub and bar sector and the wider hospitality industry is facing some unprecedented challenges, particularly in vastly increased taxation, but it is good to step back and recognise some of the amazing work that is going on, particularly from operators like Craft Union in the community space.

“These awards show that despite the challenges everyone is facing, standards are not being allowed to slip and the sector remains committed to operating at the highest possible levels.”

Best Community Pub Operator

Craft Union Pub Company

Best Sustainable Pub Company

Mitchells & Butlers

Best Food Offer

Cheshire Cat Pubs & Inns

Best Accommodation Operator

The Coaching Inn Group

Best Late Night Operator

Laine Pub Company

Best Premium Food Offer

Cubitt House