The UK’s best casual dining operators were revealed last night (Wednesday 22 February) at the Casual Dining Restaurant & Pub Awards 2017, organised by Diversified Communications UK.
wagamama, Las Iguanas, ASK Italian, The Breakfast Club, Peach Pub Company, and Levi Roots all took home awards. While wagamama’s chief executive David Campbell was also named ‘Trailblazer of the year’.
The 2017 winners were presented their awards by Matt Dawson MBE at a prestigious ceremony at the Marriot London Grosvenor Square, following the first day of the Casual Dining show.
Over 400 industry professionals – including senior representatives from Casual Dining Group, Living Ventures, Las Iguanas, Nando’s, Bill’s Restaurants, Marston’s, The New World Trading Co, Revolution Bars Group, Mitchells & Butlers, PizzaExpress, Carluccio’s, Prezzo, MEATliquor, Giggling Squid, Cabana, and The Breakfast Club – were in attendance to recognise and celebrate the standout brands of the year across the multi-billion pound casual dining sector.
Casual Dining’s group event director, Chris Brazier, says: “Once again the sheer quality of this year’s awards entries has been outstanding and sends a strong signal that the casual dining restaurant and pub sector is getting stronger and more innovative every year.
“The Casual Dining Restaurant & Pub Awards is a fantastic way to celebrate and reward those companies – from the big names to the emerging brands – who are making a real difference to the growth of this sector. Congratulations to each of our winners – the casual dining market is thriving, thanks in large part to your continuing innovations and dedication to offering an incredible dining experience.”
Casual Dining Restaurant & Pub Awards 2017 winners
Trailblazer of the Year (sponsored by Lamb Weston)
– David Campbell, chief executive of wagamama
New Casual Dining Concept of the Year (sponsored by Fresh Direct)
– Levi Roots Caribbean Smokehouse, Westfield Stratford City, London
Casual Dining Community Award (sponsored by Casual Dining show)
– The Breakfast Club: Multiple volunteering initiatives
Casual Dining Marketing Campaign (sponsored by Chef Direct)
– Las Iguanas: Summer 2016 Championsheeps Family Dining Campaign
Best Designed Independent Casual Dining Restaurant (sponsored by Commercial Kitchen show)
– The Vincent Café & Cocktail Bar, Liverpool (designed by DesignLSM)
Best Designed Multiple Casual Dining Restaurant (sponsored by Commercial Kitchen show)
– ASK Italian: Gloucester Road, London (designed by Gundry & Ducker)
Best Designed Casual Dining Pub or Bar (sponsored by Commercial Kitchen show)
– Galvin HOP: Spitalfields, London (designed by DesignLSM)
Independent Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year (sponsored by GetWaiter)
– Jack & Alice, Gerrards Cross
Independent Casual Dining Pub of the Year (sponsored by Budweiser Budvar)
– The Malt House, London
Small Casual Dining Employer of the Year (sponsored by COREcruitment)
– Jack & Alice
Large Casual Dining Employer of the Year (sponsored by Reynolds)
– Peach Pub Company
Menu Innovation Award (sponsored by Eurilait)
– KuPP
Multiple Casual Dining Pub Brand of the Year (sponsored by McCain Foodservice)
– The Draft House
Multiple Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year (sponsored by Bar Foods)
– wagamama
For further information, including a full list of finalists and the judging panel, please visit www.cdawards.co.uk.
Casual Dining 2017
The second day of Casual Dining 2017 is open from 10am to 5pm today (Thursday 23 February) at the Business Design Centre, in Islington, London.
The Keynote Theatre line-up includes Karen Forrester, CEO of TGI Friday’s UK, Andrew Gallagher, group marketing director at Côte Restaurants; James Douglas, co-founder & director at Red’s True Barbecue; Chris Knights, group executive chef at Geronimo & Young’s; Paul Dickinson, head of food at Fuller’s; Tim Foster, head of being awesome at The Yummy Pub Co; David Pellow, area vice president – Europe at Hard Rock International; Rupert and Jo Clevely (founders of Hippo Inns, in partnership with Enterprise Inns), and Bob Ivell, non-exec chairman of Mitchells & Butlers (in conversation with Propel’s Paul Charity).
For more information, please visit www.casualdiningshow.co.uk.