The top movers and shakers of the UK drinks industry gathered last night in London to hear the results of the Imbibe Personality of the Year Awards 2018.
The nominees were voted for by Imbibe magazine’s readers in record-breaking numbers and the shortlist included the highest calibre of UK on-trade professionals.
Tim Bird, co-founder of Cheshire Cat Pubs & Bars picked up the award for Pub Personality of the Year.
Imbibe editor, Chris Losh, commented: ‘Tim has worked in the industry for over 35 years, and since he’s saved many pubs from closure in that time, it’s safe to say the UK’s pub scene would not have been the same without him.
‘He’s proved himself amazing at running everything from big pub groups to small independents, and, for the last seven years, his own group of country pubs and Inns. This passion for the industry is exactly what Imbibe Magazine is all about’.
Judges for the competition included restaurateur George Bergier, the Connaught Bar’s Ago Perrone, Michelin-starred chef Adam Byatt, Northcote’s Craig Bancroft, Gin Journey’s Leon Dalloway, Beer Belle Annabel Smith, Mixology Group’s Myles Cunliffe and the Imbibe editorial team.
Imbibe launched the Personality of the Year Awards in 2011 and previous winners have included Heston Blumenthal, Ronan Sayburn MS, Thinking Drinkers, Alex Kratena, Christine Parkinson, Xavier Rousset MS, Dee Davies, Lyndon Higginson, Stuart McCluskey, Salvatore Calabrese, Laura Rhys MS, Thomas Decan, the Galvin Brothers and Jake Burger, as well as many other on-trade professionals.
The 2018 awards were presented on Monday 12th February at Mahiki Kensington.
Launched in March 2007, Imbibe magazine has rapidly become the UK’s leading magazine for on-trade drinks professionals working in premium UK establishments. Imbibe is a quarterly magazine, with more than 20,000 drinks buyers and servers in the UK receiving a copy. Copies are available upon request.
Imbibe Magazine is the UK’s leading drinks magazine and tonight at their annual awards in London our owner Tim was chosen as ‘Pub Personality of the Year 2018’.
Tim was up against some of the pub industry’s top talent on the night, but the judges not only looked at Tim’s vast experience in the industry but particularly the success of Cheshire Cat Pubs and Bars, Tim’s company that he operates with his wife and business partner Mary McLaughlin. They have taken pubs that were either closed or close to closure and through their restoration have created one of the best small pub companies in the UK!
On winning this prestigious award, Tim thanked the team at Cheshire Cat…..”I have had many proud moments in my career but nothing has made me prouder than the achievement of our pubs. Starting our own business was the best thing we have ever done and tonight I share this award with Mary and the Cheshire Cat team! I would like to thank Imbibe Magazine for giving me one of the proudest moments in my career! I look forward to celebrating with the team!”
The task was for all Junior Chefs to bring new burgers to the table that would differentiate from our original house burger. First up was Jack from the Bulls head the Bulls head they went for a trio of burgers twist with a Lamb Tikka, Sweet Potato and Pepper and Thai Fish burgers
Next up was Arek from the Roebuck who created a Pork burger with bacon and a spicy cheese and his own twist on a Marie Rose sauce. Chef Sam and Charlee from the Fitz created a Spicy Chicken and Blue Cheese burger. Then the Three Grey hounds were up with Chef Jack and Andy creating a trio of burgers, one being our standard House burger and the other two being a Chicken, Brie and Cranberry burger and a Portabello Mushroom and Halloumi burger with a red onion marmalade.
Chef Joel and Chris from The Church Inn originally planned to do a burger consisting of lobster but due to delivery issues they had to improvise and created a Venison and Sausage burger with braised red cabbage.
All five teams came up with some great ideas, their creativity and innovative ideas will be used in our future menus. But Jack and Bulls Head Deputy Steph flavours won the day as well as originality! All the teams did well with some good flavours and innovative offerings! Thank you to all the teams for taking part and we will see you at our next cook off in the New Year.
A MOBBERLEY hotel has been named as one of the best in the UK as part of an annual Sunday Times list celebrating the finest places to stay.
The Roebuck Inn is one of just 10 north west inclusions in this year’s Sunday Times Travel ‘Best Places to Stay: 100 great British hotels’ edition.
The Church Inn, in Mobberley, has won the coveted title of Cheshire Life Magazine’s Dining Pub of the Year. The award, presented at Carden Park Hotel, saw the team pip their sister pub The Cholmondeley Arms in the final of the Cheshire Life Food & Drink Awards 2017.
The Church Inn scooped this year’s title after judges visited the pub and were blown away by the quality and taste of the food as well as the ambience in which it is served. The food, described as Modern British, includes a selection of exceptional seasonal specials as well as the favourite dishes you would expect from a quintessentially English village pub. All dishes are regularly changed to match what’s in season and available from local producers.
SIMON PROUDLY HOLDS YET ANOTHER AWARD WITH ASST.
SIMON WITH A FEW MEMBERS OF THE TEAM STANDING PROUD WITH THE AWARD
The kitchen also prepares a special tasting menu for Saturday evenings and for private diners in the pub’s George Mallory dining room, a room that pays homage to the local villager and famous mountaineer who died on Everest in 1924. There is also an extensive wine list that includes 80 different wines, 15 of which are available by the glass, that have been carefully selected to provide a balance of ‘old’ and ‘new’ world wines.
Tim Bird, owner of the Church Inn comments; “It’s fantastic to be recognized in this way and for the team to rewarded for all the hard work they put in, day in day out. We have sought to develop dishes to suit each occasion whether it be a light lunch or a special supper and we’re also proud to celebrate this recognition with all our local producers.
The Church Inn is one of seven country pubs (five in Cheshire, one in Dorset and one in Staffordshire) that are owned and operated by Tim Bird and Mary McLaughlin’s Cheshire Cat Pubs & Bars group. The group has had an extraordinarily successful year receiving a flurry of awards including; Best Casual Dining Pub, Best Food Offer in the UK, Sawday’s Favourite Newcomer, Pub & Bar’s Best Pub in the North West as well as being recognised in the Northern Bar and Restaurants Top 50 Companies.
From left Leanne manager of the Fitzherbert Arms holding the ‘Best Pub in Staffordshire’ certificate with Tom Head chef of the Cholmondeley Arms who has the ‘Best Pub in the Northwest’ plaque next to Lucy, deputy manager of the Fitzherbert Arms and Tom’s partner helping hold the certificate for the Cholmondeley Arms and Cholmondeley Arms manager Tim with yet another certificate for ‘Best Pub in the Northwest!’
Here in London at the BAFTA theatre In Piccadilly on 23rd May 2017 the Cholmondeley Arms was announced as the best pub in the Northwest!
Beating all Northwest county winners to the title! Having won the Cheshire County prize three weeks ago….London called….to see if the Regional award could be won…and the Cholmondeley Arms has won it!!
So officially best Pub in the Northwest meaning Tim Bird and Mary Mclaughlin have now had two pubs win this prestigious award in two years….the Church Inn in Mobberley winning last year!
Well done to Cholmondeley Arms manager Tim and Deputy Fliss, Head Chef Tom and the team! A great win!
