Nominations are being sought for the fourth annual NRB Top 50 – the roll call of the people making the biggest contributions to the north’s hospitality industry.
Organised as part of the Northern Restaurant & Bar show in March, it is calling for people to nominate a colleague, a client or even themselves by Friday January 16 at www.nrbtop50.co.uk.
Everyone who makes the NRB Top 50 must be actively working in the hospitality industry and be based in the north-west, north-east, Yorkshire or the Humber regions.
Those making the list will be notified on March 2 before the announcement of all 50 is made at Northern Restaurant & Bar on March 17.
Three special winners will be selected based on their exceptional successes and impact throughout the year. Last year’s were Tim Bacon and Jeremy Roberts from Cheshire-based bar operator Living Ventures, Marc Wilkinson from Restaurant Fraiche on the Wirral, and Paul Askew from the Art School in Liverpool.
Thom Hetherington, chief executive of organisers Holden Media, said: “We are expecting a record number of entrants to the NRB Top 50 this year. There are some incredible individuals in the north, driving their hospitality businesses forward through innovation, excellence, and good old-fashioned hard graft.
“Too often such operators can get missed by national awards schemes, so we feel it is important to hold these people up for celebration, to inspire the next generation to raise standards in the region higher still.”
It is run in association with Kuits licensing solicitors with long-term supporters The Russell Partnership and new sponsors BDO and Tushingham Moore Leisure. They will form part of a panel of judges working in hospitality finance, property, law and consultancy in the north.
Those who make the list become part of the NRB Top 50 Alumni association as well as receive VIP invitations to the exclusive NRB Debate and the Too Many Critics Manchester dinner.
Northern Restaurant & Bar, which takes place at Manchester Central on March 17 and 18, also forms part of Northern Hospitality Week – five days of industry debates and one-off business events.
