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
