Operators from across the sector have been honoured at the first ever Casual Dining Restaurant & Pub Awards, presented as part of the Casual Dining Show yesterday (24 February).
High-profile winners included Wetherspoon and Côte, winners of multiple casual dining pub and casual dining restaurant operator of the year respectively. Wagamama was employer of the year, and Alex Reilley of Loungers was named champion of the year. The full list of winners is:
Champion of the Year Alex Reilley, executive vice chairman at Loungers
New Casual Dining Concept The Beer Kitchen
The Social Responsibility Award Ed’s Easy Diner
Casual Dining Marketing Campaign Zizzi for #ZizziTacklesCancer
Best Designed Independent Casual Dining Restaurant Suvlaki, Bateman St, London (designed by AfroditiKrassa)
Best Designed Multiple Casual Dining Restaurant GBK, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow (designed by moreno:masey)
Best Designed Casual Dining Pub or Bar The Pint Shop, Cambridge (designed by Macaulay Sinclair)
Independent Casual Dining Restaurant Project Pie, Dundee
Independent Casual Dining Pub The Northey Arms, Bath
Employer of the Year Wagamama
Multiple Casual Dining Pub Brand of the Year JD Wetherspoon
Multiple Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year Côte Restaurants
Alex Reilley said: “I’m incredibly honoured to win this award. There are so many people who contribute to what we do as a business and I just happen to be the person who’s at the forefront of it. It’s a real honour.”
Andy Moat, people director at Wagamama, said: “We’re absolutely delighted and thrilled to have won. We’ve grown to 4,500 employees now so it’s a credit to everyone at wagamamas that we’ve got the award.”
John Hutson, chief executive of JD Wetherspoon, said: “We’re obviously very delighted to win. For a company that’s been going for 36 years it’s great that we can still be recognised as doing something good in the pub and restaurant world.
Rebecca Tooth, front of house operations director at Côte Restaurants, said: “We are really thrilled to have won this award and are proud to have been recognised as the leading restaurant in this sector. I would like to thank all the staff in our restaurants for their continuation of delivering fresh, high quality food and excellent service.”
