NRB Top 50 2016 unveiled at Northern Restaurant & Bar show

Leading chefs, restaurateurs and hoteliers have made the NRB 50 power list, unveiled at the Northern Restaurant & Bar show earlier today.

The NRB Top 50 2016, run in association with Kuits Solicitors, comprises the most significant and influential operators from the North of England. This year's list includes many Catey award-winning operators including hoteliers Craig Bancroft and Nigel Haworth, chefs Simon Rogan, Gary Usher, Andrew Pern and James Mackenzie, and restaurateurs Tim Bacon and Jeremy Roberts of Living Ventures, and James Douglas Scott Munro of Reds True Barbecue.

Three special achievement awards were presented to Michael O'Hare of The Man Behind The Curtain, Mohammed Aslam MBE of Aagrah Restaurants, and the Mission Mars team made up of Roy Ellis, Neil Macleod, Joel Wilkinson, Adelaide Winter and Dan Mullen.

O'Hare was singled out for his high-profile successes in the past year, which includes being the recipient of a Michelin star. Aslam was picked not only for building a group of 14 successful restaurants across the region, but also for his commitment to the cities in which his restaurants are based and founding the South Asian Chef Competition.

Meanwhile, the Mission Mars team of Roy Ellis, Neil Macleod, Joel Wilkinson, Adelaide Winter and Dan Mullen were selected after "combining their extensive experiences in running successful bar businesses to form a new company whose first site, Albert's Schloss, has smashed records for its financial performance".

Commenting on the list, Thom Hetherington, CEO of organisers Holden Media, said: "We received a record number of entrants to the NRB Top 50 this year, making the judging an arduous but ultimately very rewarding process. There has been an influx of national brands to the North in the last year but if anything that seems to be have spurred the region's operators onto ever higher levels."

"Restaurants and bars created right here in the North are redefining what can be achieved in the local food and drink scene, both creatively and commercially, it is quite simply the best time ever to be a Northern foodie."

The power list was chosen by a panel of northern hospitality experts from the worlds of finance, property, law and consultancy.

NRB Top 50 2016

Martin Ainscough, owner, Ainscoughs

Mark Andrew, managing director, Mark Andrew Developments

Sax, Arshad, director, Mughli

Haz Arshad, director, Mughli

Paul Askew, chef-patron, the Art School

Mohammed Aslam, owner, Aagrah Group

Tim Bacon, chairman, Living Ventures

Paul Moran, managing director, Living Ventures

Jeremy Roberts, CEO, Living Ventures

Craig Bancroft, managing director, Northcote

Nigel Haworth, chef-patron, Northcote

Ken Buckley, managing director, Bravo Inns

Marie Carter, director, Beautiful Drinks

Beau Myers, director, Beautiful Drinks

Sue Crimes, MD, Gusto

Morgan Davies, founder/CEO, Barburrito

Jimmy del Giudice, operations director, Revolution Bars Group

Mark McQuater, CEO, Revolution Bars Group

Carlo Distefano, chairman, San Carlo Group

Marcello Distefano, managing director, San Carlo Group

James Douglas, co-owner/director, Reds True Barbecue

Scott Munro, co-owner/director, Reds True Barbecue

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, Graffitti Spirit

Matthew, Farrell, owner, Graffitti Spirit

Nick, Thomas, owner, Graffitti Spirit

Ged Feltham, CEO, Leelex

Paul Lane, managing director, Leelex

Jobe Ferguson, director, Blackdog Ballroom

Lyndon Higginson, director, Blackdog Ballroom

Ross Mackenzie, director, Blackdog Ballroom

Duncan Fisher, owner, Apartment Group

Kit Graves, director, Lake District Hotels

Charles Graves, director, Lake District Hotels

Dan, Hope, sales & marketing director, Lake District Hotels

Chri, Hill, managing director, New World Trading Company

Chris Hopkins, MD, Hydes Brewery

Matthew Jones, managing director, Jones Bar Group

Ben Jones, operations & finance director, Jones Bar Group

Kim Kaewkraikhot, chairwoman, Thai Leisure Group

Martin Stead, owner, Thai Leisure Group

Peter Kinsella, founder, Lunya

Elaine Kinsella, founder, Lunya

Terry Laybourne, owner, 21 Hospitality Group

William Lees Jones, managing director, JW Lees

James Mackenzie, chef-proprietor, Pipe and Glass

Mike Magrane, general manager, The Midland Hotel

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

Dave Mooney, co-owner & chef-patron, New Moon Co

Paul Newman, managing director, New Moon Co

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

Eamonn O'Loughlin, owner, Eclectic Hotels

Si Ord, owner, Sandinista

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

Oliver, Robinson, managing director, Frederic Robinson

Simon Rogan, co-owner, Umbel Restaurant Group

Richard Smith, chef-patron, Relax, Eat & Drink/ Brewkitchen

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

Roger Ward, owner, The Victorian Chophouse Company

Marc Wilkinson, chef-patron, Restaurant Fraiche