Mowgli, New World Trading Company and North Brew Co. scoop special achievement awards
BIG names and rising stars were amongst the Kuits NRB Top 50 hospitality power list announced at Northern Restaurant & Bar (NRB) trade show, held at Manchester Central exhibition centre (19-20 March 2019).
The list covers 212 brands, 1527 sites and over 22,840 employees, demonstrating the strength of the region’s hospitality scene.
Three special achievement awards were presented to Chris Hill of Knutsford-based New World Trading Company, which owns bars including The Botanist and The Oast House; Nisha Katona, founder of Mowgli Street Food; and John Gyngell and Christian Townsley from Leeds-based North Brew Co.
Nisha was awarded an MBE for services to the food industry in 2018. She recently opened a restaurant in Manchester’s University Green development with further sites confirmed in Sheffield, Cardiff and Leicester.
“It’s been another strong year for the North’s leading operators, driving the industry forward with a balance of expansion, innovation and consolidation, said CEO of NRB organisers Holden Media Thom Hetherington.
“Recent data from CGA show that the restaurant and bar scene in the major Northern cities is far outperforming London, and I think that a combination of lower costs and a better lifestyle mean more and more operators are choosing to build their businesses in the North.”
New Entries
New entries in 2019 include the founders and directors of Daniel Thwaites, Evuna, Tattu, Ossett Brewery Pub Company, Inn Collection Group, and Gracious Development Group. Both Gusto and Revolution Bars re-entered the list due to impressive performance under their new management teams.
Kuits NRB Top Fifty 2019
(listed alphabetically by surname and grouped by company)
Adele Ashley, Owner, Filmore & Union
Paul Askew, Chef Patron, The Art School
Rob Bacon, Executive Chef Director, Hickory’s Smokehouse
Jason Bligh, Director, Hickory’s Smokehouse
Neil McDonnell, Managing Director, Hickory’s Smokehouse
John Welsh, Operations Director, Hickory’s Smokehouse
James Baer, Managing Director, Amber Taverns
Gary Roberts, Operations Director, Amber Taverns
NEW ENTRY
Richard Bailey, Director, Daniel Thwaites
Craig Bancroft, Managing Director, Northcote
Lisa Goodwin Allen, Executive Chef, Northcote
Tim Bird, Owner, Cheshire Cat Pub & Bars
Mary Mclaughlin, Owner, Cheshire Cat Pub & Bars
Ken Buckley, Managing Director, Bravo Inns
Phil Dearden, Finance Director, Bravo Inns
Sarah Cook, Director, Vaulkhard Group
Harry Vaulkhard, Director, Vaulkhard Group
Oliver Vaulkhard, Director, Vaulkhard Group
Morgan Davies, Founder / CEO, Barburrito
Carlo Distefano, Chairman, San Carlo Group
Marcello Distefano, Managing Director, San Carlo Group
NEW ENTRY
Sean Donkin, Managing Director, Inn Collection Group
Ian Goulding, Chairman, Inn Collection Group
Keith Liddell, Executive Deputy Chairman, Inn Collection Group
NEW ENTRY
Jane Dowler, Founder, Evuna
Roy Ellis, Director, Mission Mars
Neil Macleod, Director, Mission Mars
Joel Wilkinson, Director, Mission Mars
Adelaide Winter, Director, Mission Mars
John Ennis, Owner, Graffiti Spirit
Matthew, Farrell, Owner, Graffiti Spirit
Jobe Ferguson, Director, Blackdog Ballroom & The Liars Club
Lyndon Higginson, Director, Blackdog Ballroom & The Liars Club
Ross Mackenzie, Director, Blackdog Ballroom & The Liars Club
Kit Graves, Director, Lake District Hotels
Charles Graves, Director, Lake District Hotels
Dani Hope, Sales & Marketing Director, Lake District Hotels
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER
John Gyngell, Director, North Bar / North Brewing Company
Christian Townsley, Director, North Bar / North Brewing Company
Jamie Hawksworth, Owner, Pivovar / The Tapped Brew Co
Jonathon Holdsworth, Founder, Pivovar / The Tapped Brew Co
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER
Chris Hill, CEO, New World Trading Company
James Hitchen, Founder, East Coast Concepts
Guy Hitchen, Founder, East Concepts
Chris Hopkins, MD, Hydes Brewery
Marko Husak, Founder, Bundobust
Mayur Patel, Founder, Bundobust
NEW ENTRY
Adam Jones, Managing Director, Tattu
Drew Jones, Marketing Director, Tattu
Matthew Jones, Managing Director, Roxy Leisure
Ben Jones, Managing Director, Concept Taverns
Ashley Kollakowski, Rose Four Group
Simon Stevens, Rose Four Group
Barry Ladhar, Crafted Projects
Michael Ladhar, Crafted Projects
NEW ENTRY
Bob Lawson, Chairman, Ossett Brewery Pub Company
Jamie Lawson, Owner, Ossett Brewery Pub Company
Terry Laybourne, Owner, 21 Hospitality Group
William Lees Jones, Managing Director, JW Lees
Simon Lees Jones, Director, JW Lees
NEW ENTRY
Daniel Murphy, Director, Gracious Development Group
Ryan McMahon, Director, Gracious Development Group
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER
Nisha Katona, Founder, Mowgli Street Food
Tomas Maunier, Director, Fazenda Rodizio Bar & Grill
Robert Melman, Director, Fazenda Rodizio Bar & Grill
Paul Moran, Managing Director, Living Ventures
Jeremy Roberts, CEO, Living Ventures
Lucy Nelson, Sales & Marketing Director, Nelson Hotels
Andrew Nelson, Operations Director, Nelson Hotels
Joycelyn Neve, Managing Director, Seafood Pub Company
Andrew Pern, Owner / Executive Chef, The Star at Harome/Star Inn The City
Steve Pilling, Co Owner, Damson Group
RE-ENTRY
Rob Pitcher, CEO, Revolution Bars Group
Jonathan Poole, Director, Red and Blue
Paddy Smith, Director, Red and Blue
Simon Potts, Managing Director, The Alchemist Bar & Restaurant
Oliver Robinson, Managing Director, Robinson’s Brewery
William Robinson, Director, Robinson’s Brewery
Simon Rogan, Co Owner, Umbel Restaurant Group
RE-ENTRY
Matt Snell, Managing Director, Gusto
Chris Soley, Chief Executive, Camerons Brewery
David Soley, Chairman, Camerons Brewery
Chris Ure, Owner, Arc Inspirations
Martin Wolstencroft, Managing Director / Owner, Arc Inspirations
Gary Usher, Owner, Elite Bistros
Steven Walker, CEO, Individual Restaurants
James Warburton, James’s Places
Andrew Wildsmith, Founder, Wildsmith Hotels
