The NRB Top Fifty, in association with Kuits Solicitors, is now inviting applications and nominations from the region’s leading operators for the 2018 awards, to be announced at Northern Restaurant & Bar in Manchester on 20 March 2018.

The entry process is now open for the seventh NRB Top Fifty Awards, the prestigious hospitality power list of the North’s finest food and drink professionals.

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.

Nominations can be submitted online at nrbtopfifty.co.uk and the deadline for entries is 5pm on Friday 26 January 2018.

The NRB Top Fifty Awards are held in association with Kuits Solicitors and sponsored by CGA, Jelf Manson, Metis Real Estate, RSM UK and The Russell Partnership.

Here is a video of last year’s celebrations:

Every year industry standard bearers attend the awards reception, held in the heart of the NRB exhibition, to meet their peers and colleagues and to celebrate industry excellence.

Last year’s special achievement awards winners were chef Gary Usher of Sticky Walnut, Jimmy del Guidice & Mark McQuater of Revolution Bars Group plc and Paul Moran & Jeremy Roberts of Living Ventures.

The awards are judged by a panel of leading hospitality experts who span the fields of law, finance, property, insurance, marketing and business consultancy and include industry experts from Kuits, Jelf Manson, Metis Real Estate, the Russell Partnership and CGA. 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.

“Judging the NRB Top Fifty is always a big challenge”, says Thom Hetherington, CEO of organisers Holden Media, “and for 2018 we have once again increased the level of diligence and research which goes into selecting the final fifty. It’s a huge undertaking, but we are always excited to see who makes the cut, and Northern operators seem to raise the bar every single year.”

The NRB Top Fifty is hosted at Northern Restaurant & Bar, the North’s hospitality exhibition, which returns to Manchester Central 20 & 21 March for the show’s 18th year. The show welcomes 275 exhibitors & 8,000 industry professionals, and includes the NRB Debate (Tues 20 March) plus a programme of events hosted by organisations including CJUK, Action Against Hunger and CityCo. NRB18 brings the entire Northern hospitality industry together for two days of networking, discovery and inspiration. Hospitality professionals can register for free tickets now at northernrestaurantandbar.co.uk

For further information on the NRB Top Fifty awards visit nrbtopfifty.co.uk
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