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