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