Henley-based Brakspear has been shortlisted for two titles in the Publican Awards 2017, a national competition that rewards the best operators in the UK pub industry. The company is through to the finals for Best Accommodation Operator and Best New Pub or Bar, winners of which will be announced in March.
The Publican Awards are open to pubs across the UK and are run by leading industry magazine The Morning Advertiser. Brakspear has secured its two finalist places for the accommodation in five of its managed pubs – four in the Cotswolds and one in Surrey – and for the Sheep on Sheep Street in Stow-on-the-Wold, which opened in June 2016.
Judges will now visit a number of the shortlisted pubs with members of the Brakspear head office team. The judging process also involves a number of professional mystery pub visits and, finally, an interview in London for the Brakspear senior management team with a panel of industry experts.
Brakspear chief executive Tom Davies said, “Considering we only opened our first managed pub with rooms – the Porch House in Stow – in autumn 2013, and our newest sites with accommodation opened as recently as last summer, it’s a real achievement to reach the finals in the Publican Awards, which are regarded as the ‘ones to win’ in the pub industry.
“We’re also very proud of the shortlisting for the Sheep on Sheep Street, where we’ve taken a very different approach to the typical Cotswolds pub by creating ‘a slice of London’ with the bar’s decor, food and drink.
“For both Best Accommodation and Best New Bar awards, we’re pitted against some of the best operators in the industry, so we will need to present a powerful case to the judges. We’ll certainly give it our very best shot and look forward to the announcement of the winners in March.”
He added, “Credit for the stunning transformation at the Sheep on Sheep Street must go to our property manager Tony Lewis and to our interior designer Stephanie Dennett, who has also designed the bedrooms at all five of our managed pubs, as well as to the general managers and their teams at each pub.”
Editor of The Morning Advertiser Ed Bedington said “We had record entries into the Publican Awards this year, so our judges had a difficult task in choosing the finalists from a very talented field. The pubs that have reached the shortlist deserve to be very proud of their achievement and we wish them all good luck with the next stage of the judging, and look forward to announcing the winners in March.”
Winners of the Publican Awards 2017 will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on 14 March, attended by guests from across the pub industry.
Brakspear has succeeded in the Publican Awards in previous years, winning Best Tenanted Pub Operator (up to 200 pubs) in 2014, and reaching the finals of the Best Brewing Pub Company last year.
Notes to editors
Brakspear pubs with accommodation
- Brakspear operates a total of nine managed pubs, five of them with accommodation: the award-winning Porch House in Stow-on-the-Wold; Sheep on Sheep Street, also in Stow; George Townhouse in Shipston-on-Stour; Church Street Townhouse in Stratford-on-Avon and Running Horses in Mickleham, Surrey.
- At all the pubs, interior designer Stephanie Dennett has created individual bedrooms that blend with the style and character of the pub, so they are all different, though they share a high level of comfort on a par with the best boutique hotels.
- www.brakspear.co.uk
The Sheep on Sheep Street
- The Sheep on Sheep Street – previously the Grapevine Hotel – opened in June 2016. The aim of the extensive refurbishment was to bring ‘a slice of London’ to the Cotswolds, creating a contemporary, relaxed atmosphere for dining, drinking and overnight stays
- The redesigned bar and restaurant area is dominated by a central, full length bar top that flows into a counter dining space in front of the open kitchen with its wood-fired oven producing the Sheep’s popular pizzas. Overall, the menu combines Mediterranean influences with local ingredients.
- Upstairs, 22 bedrooms offer boutique hotel-style accommodation, with a contemporary, quirky design.
- www.thesheepstow.co.uk