Neil Sowerby salutes our culinary movers and shakers and Matt White catches up on camera with First Dates fave Fred Sirieix…
THE Northern Restaurant & Bar (NRB) show has revealed its Top 50 regional high fliers for 2018, with nine new entries joining the power list now in its seventh year, including Marko Husak and Mayur Patel (above) the duo behind Bundobust, Manchester Food and Drink Awards Restaurant of the Year.
The list, which spans over 216 brands and 1194 sites, is chosen by a panel of industry experts and announced during the trade show at Manchester Central – the largest such hospitality event in the North. It arrives in the wake of a new survey confirming food and drink growth rates in the north leaving London trailing.
It's a tribute to this momentum that NRB can attract the likes of mega maitre d' and First Dates star Fred Sirieix to headline this year's Bruntwood Debate, where he shared his wisdom on service. ToM's Matty White grabbed an illuminating chat with him on video
New entries to the Top 50 this year include the Marko Husak and Mayur Patel, founders and directors of Bundobust, Nisha Katona’s Mowgli Street Food, Amber Taverns, James’ Places, Camerons Brewery, Wildsmith Hotels, Crafted Projects, East Coast Concepts and Rose Four Group.
Three special achievement awards were also presented to…
- Jobe Ferguson, Ross Mackenzie, and Lyndon Higginson (Black Dog, Liars Club). “A complex portfolio has done nothing to dent the trio’s focus, and despite their unique
impact on the region’s food and drink landscape it feels that they are only just beginning
to click through the gears”
- Simon Potts (The Alchemist). This award-winning brand has expanded rapidly without a single mis-step, with a
pioneering approach to everything from marketing to CSR which has had other operators
playing catch-up. - Chris Ure and Martin Wolstencroft of Arc Inspirations (Banyan/Manahatta). “Their ability to build such a sizable and multi-faceted business steadily and organically,
without the need for significant outside funding, is a rare feat worthy of recognition.”
Thom Hetherington, CEO of organisers Holden Media, said: “Despite tremors in the casual dining market our NRB Top 50 entrants have shown no shortage of ambition. Almost every one of the 50 has grand plans for expansion and new sites, and I am sure that 2018/19 will see a ‘rise of the indies’, which will play to the strengths of our great Northern operators.” - Full Top 50 list is here.
