News & Updates
Marston’s toasts its 2024 Pubs of the Year
22nd November 2024
This week, Marston’s hosted its 2024 National Pub of the Year Awards in Liverpool, celebrating the industry-leading achievements of both its Managed and Partnership estate for the first time.
Following 12 months of data gathering, over 800 individual nominations and two regional and divisional heats, Marston’s expert panel of judges travelled up and down the country to create the shortlist of finalists, which ultimately produced 15 national winners for this year’s categories.
The hotly contested and arguably most coveted award of the evening, ‘GM/Partner of the Year’, was won by Lesley Anderson from The Dancing Betty, Murton, who was honoured as “a shining example of what a GM/Partner can achieve at Marston’s, demonstrating year-on-year sales growth and hosting a bustling calendar of events that bring the local community together.”
Another highlight of the evening saw Karen Dawson from Longshore, Shoreham-by-Sea winning ‘Community Hero of the Year’. Karen’s pub plays host to a jam-packed calendar of inspiring community-led events, from games of crib to hosting 300 bikers on the pub car park for the start of the annual Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride.
Ricky Wilding from The Running Hare, Ewloe was crowned ‘Head Chef of the Year’ and was praised for demonstrating real pride in his craft, reflected in the service and culinary excellence his kitchen delivers and the great feedback the pub consistently receives from its customers.
The Rose & Crown, Porthcawl scooped the award for ‘Great Place to Work’, with licensee Hannah Lewis praised for creating a safe and welcoming environment with the utmost commitment to her team’s wellbeing, as reflected in the pub’s glowing guest feedback and reputation scores.
Neil Campbell, Chief Operating Officer for Marston’s PLC, said:
“This year’s National Pub of the Year awards were a spectacular evening, full of inspirational stories of operational excellence, community engagement and good times shared by all.
“We are immensely proud of all our teams and the dedication and hard work they put into their pubs and communities every day. A huge congratulations to each of the deserving winners, finalists and nominees for inspiring us all and keeping our guests returning time-and-time again.”
Marston’s 2024 National Pub of the Year Award Winners:
| Award Category | 2024 National Winners |
|---|---|
| Sports Pub of the Year | The Arrow, Yeovil |
| Best Entertainment Pub of the Year | The Pontardawe Inn, Pontardawe |
| Hotel of the Year | The Two Rivers at Chepstow, Chepstow |
| Sales Outstanding Progress of the Year | Weavers Arms, Hinckley |
| Best Sales of the Year | The Farmhouse at Mackworth, Derby |
| Guest Obsessed Pub of the Year | Turing Key, Bletchley |
| Great Place to Work Pub of the Year | The Rose & Crown, Porthcawl |
| Guest Experience Outstanding Progress | The Houghton Arms, Failsworth |
| Community Hero of the Year | Karen Dawson, The Longshore, Shoreham-by-Sea |
| Head Chef of the Year | Ricky Wilding, The Running Hare, Ewloe |
| Drinks Pub of the Year | St Johns Hotel, Hull |
| Garden of the Year | The Ship Inn, Bridlington |
| Balanced Score Card Outstanding Progress | The Whistling Wren, Leigh |
| Pub Support Centre Person of the Year | Gill Minor, Recruitment Development Manager |
| GM/Partner of the Year | Lesley Anderson, The Dancing Betty, Murton |
