Nominations open for North’s best hospitality operators

Nominations are now open for the Kuits NRB Top Fifty 2020 which compiles the annual list of the most significant hospitality operators in the North of England. The final fifty, selected by an expert judging panel, will be announced at Northern Restaurant & Bar on 17 March 2020.

The entry process is now open for the ninth Kuits NRB Top Fifty, the prestigious hospitality power list of the North’s finest food and drink operators. The awards celebrate the fifty top hospitality operators who, over the last twelve months, have shown sector-leading levels of commercial and critical success. Three operators, who the judges believe have achieved something truly exceptional, will also be celebrated for their outstanding contribution to the industry.

“These awards are effectively a barometer of the state of play in the Northern hospitality scene, indicating it’s strength, depth and direction. We spend a huge amount of time on the ground talking to the people who actually run food and drink businesses and although there are certainly pressures on every operator I would say what shines through is their resilience, ambition and confidence that they can face any challenges. The operators that are thriving across the region and the ones delivering something truly special, are those that you will see featuring in this year’s Kuits NRB Top Fifty,” said Thom Hetherington, CEO of organisers Holden Media.

Nominations can be submitted online at nrbtopfifty.co.uk the deadline for entries is 5pm on Friday 17 January 2020.

Specialist legal advisors, Kuits, have continued their headline sponsorship of the awards in 2020.

Joint head of licensing for Kuits, Felicity Tulloch, said: “As specialist legal advisors to the licensed trade, Kuits has been proud to support and judge the Kuits NRB Top Fifty awards for a number of years. The list provides an important platform for the most exciting and influential new and established operators in the hospitality industry. Undoubtedly, Northern Restaurant & Bar is providing a national stage for the North’s thriving food and drink industry, and we’re delighted to be part of it.”

Kuits NRB Top Fifty is held in association with Biffa, Bruntwood, CGA, CPL Online, Jelf (becoming Marsh Commercial) and Metis Real Estate.

The awards are judged by a panel of leading hospitality experts who span the fields of law, finance, property, insurance, marketing and business consultancy. Judges are looking for operators who show consistent commercial success, as well as evolution and innovation, and who have made a greater contribution to the industry and the region in terms of skills, training, ambassadorial work and CSR.

Kuits NRB Top Fifty is hosted by Northern Restaurant & Bar, the North’s biggest hospitality exhibition, which returns to Manchester Central on 17-18 March 2020 for its twentieth edition. NRB20 provides an opportunity for leading operators, suppliers and industry figures to meet, speak and do business. From Liverpool to Leeds, the North East to the North West and the Lake District to the Peak District, it brings the cream of the hospitality industry to Manchester.

For further information on Kuits NRB Top Fifty and to submit your nomination visit nrbtopfifty.co.uk