Yahoo News Manchester bars and chophouse amongst big winners at coveted casual dining awards
Some of the leading restaurant groups when it comes to casual dining have been honoured at a glitzy awards ceremony recognising the best in the industry.
The Casual Dining Awards, now in its seventh year, was held at the London Marriott Hotel on Thursday evening (April 25) with big winners on the night including wagamama, with two awards for both Menu Innovation for a venue with more than 26 sites and Restaurant Brand of the Year with over 50 sites, and Nandos for Employer of the Year with more than 50 sites.
All Bar One, which has venues on King Street in Manchester City Centre and at the Trafford Centre, was named Legendary Brand of the Year, and Indian café Dishoom, which has a restaurant on Bridge Street in Spinningfields, was named Employer of the Year with under 50 sites.
Restaurant and beer house Albert’s Schloss, which has venues next to the Albert Hall as well as in Liverpool, was named Pub/Bar Brand of the Year with less than 50 sites, whilst Lounge won the same award for a group with more than 50 sites. Amongst their venues include Oxford Road's Navarro Lounge, Expo Lounge in Didsbury, and Berretto Lounge in Stockport.
Chophouse Blacklock, which has just opened a new restaurant on Peter Street alongside sites in Soho and Canary Wharf, was named Restaurant Brand of the Year for a group with less than 20 sites. Steak restaurant Hawskmoor, which has a venue in Deansgate, was named Sustainable Operator. With a menu featuring dry-aged beef, seasonal produce and sustainable seafood, the restaurant was also recently named one of the best places for Sunday roasts in the country.
Pizza Pilgrims, which started as a stall at Berwick Street market in London back in 2012, won the Restaurant Brand of the Year (20-50 sites) and Brand Marketing of the Year awards, whilst co-owners and brothers James and Thom Elliot were honoured with the Trailblazer of the Year award. They now have more than 20 pizzerias, mostly located across London.
Caravan in Covent Garden was named Opening of the Year. The all-day dining restaurant, which celebrates a 'well-travelled' menu features breakfast, brunch and dinner choices, including Korean-style fried chicken and fried jalapeño cornbread. The restaurant will be opening its first ever restaurant in the north here in Manchester this summer.
Jane O'Riordan, who is the chair of Caravan alongside Turtle Bay and Red Engine and a former group strategy director at Nando's, was also handed the Special Award during the night. Other winners included Brightside, Bundobust, Inamo, and Bill’s, whilst Mission Mars, the operator behind venues including Albert's Schloss, Rudy's and Albert Hall, was named Casual Dining Group of the Year.
Stephen Herring, Event Manager of the Casual Dining Awards & the Casual Dining show, said the event’s winners ‘surpassed all expectations’. “[The awards] provided an excellent platform for the dynamic, passionate, and innovative operators in this industry to unite and celebrate their achievements,” he explained.
“It is inspiring to see the drive and commitment within this resilient sector. Thank you to the sponsors, judges, nominees and congratulations to all the deserving winners!”
Thomas Heier, the CEO of wagamama, added: "The Casual Dining Awards are a great opportunity to celebrate the hard work and achievements across the industry. It is important to celebrate the consistent hard work and dedication that goes into growing and developing the hospitality sector at our industry awards."
