NRB names Top 50 food and drink players in the North of England

The full list, which recognises the biggest players in North of England’s hospitality scene, was announced at a ceremony in Manchester this afternoon.

New additions include Adele Ashley, head chef at Filmore & Union, and the team from Hickory's Smokehouse barbecue group.

Former footballers Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville were also recognised for their GG Hospitality empire, which includes the recently opened Rabbit in the Moon restaurant with Michael O'Hare.​​

Usher received one of three special achievement awards for successfully crowdfunding his second north-west-based restaurant, Burnt Truffle.

There were also awards for Living Ventures’ CEO Jeremy Roberts and group managing director Paul Moran for their work driving the business forwards after the loss of the company’s founder Tim Bacon last year.​​

Jimmy del Guidice & Mark McQuater were recognised for overhauling Revolution Bars Group, which saw like-for-like sales grow two per cent in the second half of 2016.

“This year’s list has shown steady churn with an influx of new entrants particularly from Yorkshire and the North East,” says Thom Hetherington, CEO of organisers Holden Media.

“I think that in terms of volume, variety and sheer quality Northern food and drink lovers have never had it so good.”

The NRB Top Fifty 2017 list in full:​

(New entries in bold)

Sax Arshad, Director, Mughli

Haz Arshad, Director, Mughli

Adele Ashley, Owner / Head Chef, Filmore & Union​

Paul Askew, Chef Patron, The Art School

Mohammed Aslam MBE, Owner, Aagrah Group

Rob Bacon, Executive Chef Director, Hickory's Smokehouse​

Jason Bligh, Director, Hickory's Smokehouse​

Neil McDonnell, Managing Director, Hickory's Smokehouse​

John Welsh, Operations Director, Hickory's Smokehouse​

Craig Bancroft, Managing Director, Northcote

Nigel Haworth, Chef Patron, Northcote

Tim Bird, Owner, Cheshire Cat Pub & Bars​

Mary Mclaughlin, Owner, Cheshire Cat Pub & Bar​

Ken Buckley, Managing Director, Bravo Inns

Marie Carter, Director, Beautiful Drinks

Beau Myers, Director, Beautiful Drinks

Paul Cogan, Group Finance & Resources Director, Betty & Taylors Group​

Rachel Fellow, Group Communications Director, Betty & Taylors Group​

Philip Hanson, Non Exec Director, Betty & Taylors Group​

Clare Morrow, Non Exec Director, Betty & Taylors Group​

Berenice Smith, Non Exec Director, Betty & Taylors Group​

Lesley Wild, Chair of the Board, Betty & Taylors Group​

Sarah Cook, Director, Vaulkhard Group​

Harry Vaulkhard, Director, Vaulkhard Group​

Oliver Vaulkhard, Director, Vaulkhard Group​

Sue Crimes, MD, Gusto

Morgan Davies, Founder / CEO, Barburrito

Stewart Davies, Group Operations Director, GG Hospitality​

Ryan Giggs, Director, GG Hospitality​

Gary Neville, Director, GG Hospitality​

Jimmy del Giudice, Operations Director, Revolution Bars Group plc

Mark McQuater, CEO, Revolution Bars Group plc

Carlo Distefano, Chairman, San Carlo Group

Marcello Distefano, Managing Director, San Carlo Group

James Douglas, Co Owner / Director, Reds True BBQ

Scott Munro, Co Owner / Director, Reds True BBQ

Roy Ellis, Director, Mission Mars     

Neil Macleod, Director, Mission Mars

Dan Mullen, Director, Mission Mars

Joel Wilkinson, Director, Mission Mars

Adelaide Winter, Director, Mission Mars

John Ennis, Owner, Graffiti Spirit

Matthew, Farrell, Owner, Graffiti Spirit

Nick, Thomas, Owner, Graffiti Spirit

Ged Feltham, CEO, Leelex

Paul Lane, Managing Director, Leelex

Jobe Ferguson, Director, Blackdog Ballroom & The Liars Club

Lyndon Higginson, Director, Blackdog Ballroom & The Liars Club

Ross Mackenzie, Director, Blackdog Ballroom & The Liars Club

Duncan Fisher, Owner, Apartment Group

Kit Graves, Director, Lake District Hotels

Charles Graves, Director, Lake District Hotels

Dani Hope, Sales & Marketing Director, Lake District Hotels

John Gyngell, Director, North Bar / North Brewing Company​

Christian Townsley, Director, North Bar / North Brewing Company​

Jamie Hawksworth, Owner, Pivovar / The Tapped Brew Co​

Jonathon Holdsworth, Founder, Pivovar / The Tapped Brew Co​

Chris Hill, CEO, New World Trading Company

Chris Hopkins, MD, Hydes Brewery

Matthew Jones, Managing Director, Jones Bar Group

Ben Jones, Operations & Finance Director, Jones Bar Group

Ban Kaewkraikhot, Owner / head Chef, Sukhothai​

Kim Kaewkraikhot, Chairwoman, Thai Leisure Group

Martin Stead, Owner, Thai Leisure Group

Terry Laybourne, Owner, 21 Hospitality Group

William Lees Jones, Managing Director, JW Lees

Colin Manning, Managing Partner, 60 Hope St

Gary Manning, Chef Patron, 60 Hope St

Tomas Maunier, Director, Fazenda Rodizio Bar & Grill

Robert Melman, Director, Fazenda Rodizio Bar & Grill

Stephen Miles, General Manager, Radisson Blu Edwardian Manchester

Paul Moran, Managing Director, Living Ventures

Jeremy Roberts, CEO, Living Ventures

Lucy Nelson, Sales & Marketing Director, Nelson Hotels

Andrew Nelson, Operations Director, Nelson Hotels

Joycelyn Neve, Managing Director, Seafood Pub Company

Michael O'Hare, Chef-Patron, The Man Behind the Curtain

Andrew Pern, Owner / Executive Chef, The Star at Harome/Star Inn The City

Steve Pilling, Co Owner, Damson Group

Simon Stanley, Co Owner, Damson Group

Jonathan Poole, Director, Red and Blue

Paddy Smith, Director, Red and Blue

Simon Potts, Managing Director, The Alchemist Bar & Restaurant​

Oliver Robinson, Managing Director, Frederic Robinson

Simon Rogan, Co Owner, Umbel Restaurant Group

Franco Sotgiu, Co Owner, Solita

Chris Ure, Owner, Arc Inspirations

Martin Wolstencroft, Managing Director / Owner, Arc Inspirations

Gary Usher, Owner, Sticky Walnut

Steven Walker, CEO, Individual Restaurants

Marc Wilkinson, Chef Patron, Restaurant Fraiche