NRB Top 50 hospitality power list 2023 revealed

14 March 2023 by
NRB Top 50 hospitality power list 2023 revealed

Chefs Tommy Banks and Lisa Goodwin-Allen and the Bundobust restaurant group have all been recognised in the Kuits NRB Top 50 Hospitality Power List for 2023.

The list is judged by a panel of hospitality experts in the north of England and recognises operators who have excelled commercially and critically in the last year.

It was unveiled during the first day of the Northern Restaurant and Bar (NRB) trade show in Manchester on Tuesday (14 March).

Bundobust founders Marko Husak and Mayur Patel received one of three special awards. Since opening its first Indian street food restaurant in Leeds in 2014 Bundobust has expanded to Manchester and Liverpool and also brews its own beer.

Graffiti Spirits Group, which runs nine hospitality venues across Liverpool and Manchester, received a special award for its "commitment to innovation, high-quality food and drink, sustainability [and] community involvement" with judges noting that it was admired by both customers and the industry.

Retro gaming bar concept NQ64 also received a special award for its "innovative idea" that offered a "fun and nostalgic night out".

New entries in the wider top 50 list included chefs Adam Reid and Mark Bichall as well as the team behind Manchester's Higher Ground hospitality group.

Chris Brazier, group event director for NRB, said: "This year's list has revealed a steady churn of operators, with an influx of new entrants. While challenges remain for industry, it's great to see the tone changing from one of resilience and survival to one of ambition and opportunity for some operators.

"There are new gastropubs, hotels, Michelin starred restaurants, casual dining operators and experiential leisure sites to be congratulated and watched now and in the future."

Kuits NRB Top 50 2023 (listed alphabetically by company)

Terry Laybourne, 21 Hospitality Group

NEW ENTRY Adam Reid, Adam Reid at the French

Anni Opong, Arc Inspirations

Chris Ure, Arc Inspirations

Martin Wolstencroft, Arc Inspirations

Amer Rafiq, Archies

Imran Rafiq, Archies

Irfan Rafiq, Archies

Asim Rafiq, Archies

NEW ENTRY Joel Wilkinson, A Very Inc

NEW ENTRY Dan Mullen, A Very Inc

NEW ENTRY Adelaide Winter, A Very Inc

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Marko Husak, Bundobust

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Mayur Patel, Bundobust

Rob Cameron, By The River Co / Wylam Brewery

Dave Stone, By The River Co / Wylam Brewery

David Soley, Camerons Brewery

Chris Soley, Camerons Brewery

Tim Bird, Cheshire Cat Pub & Bars

Mary Mclaughlin, Cheshire Cat Pub & Bars

NEW ENTRY Christopher Laidler, Climat

Jonathan Heyes, Common & Co

Charlotte Heyes, Common & Co

Zack Issak, Dabangg

Richard Bailey, Daniel Thwaites

Simon Shaw, El Gato Negro, Mills Hill Developments

Gary Usher, Elite Bistros

NEW ENTRY Mike Phillips, Fat Hippo

Oliver Robinson, Frederic Robinson

William Robinson, Frederic Robinson

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD John Ennis, Graffiti Spirit Group

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Matthew Farrell, Graffiti Spirit Group

Matt Snell, Gusto

NEW ENTRY Richard Cossins, Higher Ground

NEW ENTRY Daniel Craig Martin, Higher Ground

NEW ENTRY Joseph Otway, Higher Ground

James Warburton, James' Places

Mike Auld, James' Places

William Lees Jones, JW Lees

Paul Moran, Living Ventures

Jeremy Roberts, Living Ventures

NEW ENTRY Sam Grainger, Madre

NEW ENTRY Chris Edwards, Madre

NEW ENTRY Owain Williams, Madre

James Bates, Maray

Dominic Jones, Maray

Thomas White, Maray

NEW ENTRY Jenny Thompson, Market Operations

NEW ENTRY Nick Johnson, Market Operations

Roy Ellis, Mission Mars

Neil Macleod, Mission Mars

NEW ENTRY Mark Birchall, the Restaurant at Moor Hall

Nisha Katona, Mowgli Street Food

Rod McKie, New World Trading Company

John Gyngell, North

Christian Townsley, North

NEW ENTRY Lisa Goodwin-Allen, Northcote

NEW ENTRY Craig Bancroft, Northcote

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Andy Haygarth, NQ64

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Matt Robson, NQ64

Jamie Lawson, Ossett Brewery Pub Company

Jamie Hawksworth, Pivovar Ltd, Thornbridge & Co

Jonathon Holdsworth, Pivovar Ltd, Thornbridge & Co

Rob Pitcher, Revolution Bars Group

Ben Jones, Roxy Leisure Ltd & Concept Taverns Ltd

Matthew Jones, Roxy Leisure Ltd & Concept Taverns Ltd

Carlo Distefano, San Carlo Group

Marcello Distefano, San Carlo Group

Ashley Kollakowski, Super Friendz

Simon Stevens, Super Friendz

Simon Potts, the Alchemist Bar

Vic Stewart, the Alchemist Bar

Mark Burville, the Alchemist Bar

Sean Donkin, the Inn Collection Group

Ian Goulding, the Inn Collection Group

Jobe Ferguson, the Liars Club Group

Lyndon Higginson, the Liars Club Group

Ross Mackenzie, the Liars Club Group

Nina Bigland, the Milestone Group

Matt Bigland, the Milestone Group

NEW ENTRY Ryan Blackburn, the Old Stamp House

NEW ENTRY Craig Blackburn, the Old Stamp House

NEW ENTRY Tommy Banks, the Tommy Banks Group

Aaron Mellor, Tokyo Industries

Simon Rogan, Umbel Restaurant Group

Sarah Cook, Vaulkhard Group

Oliver Vaulkhard, Vaulkhard Group

Harry Vaulkhard, Vaulkhard Group

Andrew Wildsmith, Wildsmith Hotels

Sax Arshad, Zanna Group

Pictured: the Special Achievement Award winners

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