It’s been a tough few years for hospitality operators. The pandemic caused huge issues with revenue loss and staff retention, with hotels, restaurants, pubs, bars and cafes only to be hit from all sides with cost increases across the board from ingredients to rent and energy prices.
However, many successful operators seem to be not just weathering the storm but navigating well through it with busy sites, increased profits, renewed investment and even new openings.
The Kuits NRB Top Fifty 2023, which was announced earlier this week at Northern Restaurant & Bar 2023, the annual hospitality trade exhibition held at Manchester Central. It marks and celebrates the continued growth and success of the best operators in the North from Newcastle, Yorkshire and Cumbria, to Merseyside, Lancashire and Manchester.
This year’s list features a mix of long-established names, up and coming talent and eleven new entries. Three special award winners were also revealed, recognising those operators who have had a particularly strong year.
Chris Brazier, Group Event Director for Northern Restaurant & Bar, says “This year’s list has revealed a steady churn of operators, with an influx of new entrants. While challenges remain for industry, it’s great to see the tone changing from one of resilience and survival to one of ambition and opportunity for some operators. There are new Gastropubs, hotels, Michelin starred restaurants, casual dining operators and experiential leisure sites to be congratulated and watched now and in the future.
Many operators are saying that the start to the year has been above expectations in the face of evolving consumer behaviour, but also down to tenacity and talent of Northern Hospitality operators. Let us all hope that this continues, and we see an exciting period of launches, expansion, and innovation throughout 2023.”
The three special achievement awards were presented to Marko Husak and Mayur Patel of Bundobust, Matthew Farrell and John Ennis of Graffiti Spirit Group, and Andy Haygarth and Matt Robson of NQ64.
Judges said that Bundobust’s combination of delicious food, creative dishes, affordable prices, friendly service, and unique atmosphere make it a standout restaurant that people love to visit again and again. The casual vegetarian Indian street food and craft beer venues have established themselves as a popular and well-respected player in the competitive restaurant industry.
The Graffiti Spirit Group own and operate various sites in Liverpool and Manchester including Society and Bold Street Coffee. The judges also commented on their commitment to innovation, high-quality food and drinks, sustainability, community involvement, and recognition within the industry make it a great hospitality company that customers and industry experts alike admire.
Judges stated that NQ64’s concept of combining retro arcade games with a fun and relaxed bar atmosphere is a unique and innovative idea that has not been widely replicated. Although interactive social bars involving activities from darts, to shooting, crazy golf and even axe throwing are on the rise, NQ64 fills a gap in the market for customers looking for a fun and nostalgic night out.
New entries in 2023 include key figures from A Very Inc, Adam Reid at The French, Climat, Fat Hippo, Higher Ground, Madre, Market Operations (who are behind Altrincham Market), Moor Hall, Northcote, The Old Stamp House, and The Tommy Banks Group.
A panel of Northern hospitality experts in the fields of hospitality finance, accountancy, property, law and consultancy spent hours sifting through hundreds of pages of judging notes to decide the 2023 top fifty operators.
Head of Leisure and Licensing for Kuits, Felicity Tulloch comments; “As specialist legal advisors to the leisure sector, Kuits is delighted to once again be involved in this important, industry-leading event. We are proud to support and judge the Kuits NRB Top Fifty awards as we have done for several years. The awards provide an important platform and recognition for the most exciting and influential operators in the hospitality industry. In the last two years we have seen just how adaptable and resilient the operators in this sector are. Northern Restaurant & Bar provides a national stage for the North’s thriving food and drink industry, and we’re proud to be associated with it.”
The Kuits NRB Top Fifty 2023 is sponsored by Kuits, Bruntwood, CGA by NielsenIQ, JW Lees, Marsh Commercial, Metis Real Estate, NatWest, The Tim Bacon Foundation, Uber Eats, and Zellar.
The invitation only Kuits NRB Top Fifty awards reception took place at 3pm on Tuesday 14 March 2023 at Northern Restaurant & Bar. NRB23 brings together over 8,500 visitors and 300+ exhibitors for two days of business, networking, and education.
Kuits NRB Top Fifty 2023
(listed alphabetically by company)
Terry Laybourne, 21 Hospitality Group
NEW ENTRY – Adam Reid, Adam Reid at The French
Anni Opong, Chris Ure, Martin Wolstencroft, Arc Inspirations
Amer Rafiq, Imran Rafiq, Irfan Rafiq, Asim Rafiq, Archies
NEW ENTRY – Joel Wilkinson, Dan Mullen, Adelaide Winter, A Very Inc
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – Marko Husak, Mayur Patel, Bundobust
Rob Cameron, Dave Stone, By The River Co / Wylam Brewery
David Soley, Chris Soley, Camerons Brewery
Tim Bird, Mary Mclaughlin, Cheshire Cat Pub & Bars
NEW ENTRY – Christopher Laidler, Climat
Jonathan Heyes, Charlotte Heyes, Common & Co
Zack Issak, Dabangg
Richard Bailey, Daniel Thwaites
Simon Shaw, El Gato Negro, Mills Hill Developments
Gary Usher, Elite Bistros
NEW ENTRY – Mike Phillips, Fat Hippo
Oliver Robinson, William Robinson, Frederic Robinson
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – John Ennis, Matthew Farrell, Graffiti Spirit Group
Matt Snell, Gusto
NEW ENTRY – Richard Cossins, Daniel Craig Martin, Joseph Otway, Higher Ground
James Warburton, Mike Auld, James’ Places
William Lees Jones, JW Lees
Paul Moran, Jeremy Roberts, Living Ventures
NEW ENTRY – Sam Grainger, Chris Edwards, Owain Williams, Madre
James Bates, Dominic Jones, Thomas White, Maray
NEW ENTRY – Jenny Thompson, Nick Johnson, Market Operations
Roy Ellis, Neil Macleod, Mission Mars
NEW ENTRY – Mark Birchall, The Restaurant at Moor Hall
Nisha Katona, Mowgli Street Food
Rod McKie, New World Trading Company
John Gyngell, Christian Townsley, North
NEW ENTRY – Lisa Goodwin-Allen, Craig Bancroft, Northcote
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD – Andy Haygarth, Matt Robson, NQ64
Jamie Lawson, Ossett Brewery Pub Company
Jamie Hawksworth, Jonathon Holdsworth, Pivovar Ltd, Thornbridge & Co
Rob Pitcher, Revolution Bars Group
Ben Jones, Matthew Jones, Roxy Leisure Ltd & Concept Taverns Ltd
Carlo Distefano, Marcello Distefano, San Carlo Group
Ashley Kollakowski, Simon Stevens, Super Friendz
Simon Potts, Vic Stewart, Mark Burville, The Alchemist Bar
Sean Donkin, Ian Goulding, The Inn Collection Group
Jobe Ferguson, Lyndon Higginson, Ross Mackenzie, The Liars Club Group
Nina Bigland, Matt Bigland, The Milestone Group
NEW ENTRY – Ryan Blackburn, Craig Blackburn, The Old Stamp House
NEW ENTRY – Tommy Banks, The Tommy Banks Group
Aaron Mellor, Tokyo Industries
Simon Rogan, Umbel Restaurant Group
Sarah Cook, Oliver Vaulkhard, Harry Vaulkhard, Vaulkhard Group
Andrew Wildsmith, Wildsmith Hotels
Sax Arshad, Zanna Group
