Channel Island pub chain The Liberation Group enjoyed unprecedented success at last night's British Institute of Innkeeping Jersey Pub Awards 2009, claiming a win in almost every category. It was a golden night for the business, which won six out of the eight awards, and comes just a year after The Liberation Group was set up. Chief Executive Officer Mark Crowther credited the success to the hard work and determination of a winning team who had beaten off fierce competition at a challenging time for the hospitality industry.
He said: "It's been an incredibly busy year for us, but this win shows we are really on the right track. As a local business we are firmly committed to helping our tenants and managers achieve success by investing in our premises and offering great choice and service at the right price".
Justin Pledger, who is the Liberation Group tenant at the Victoria in The Valley, scooped the top award of the night, Smirnoff Licensee of the Year. Mr Pledger took on the tenancy seven months ago after spending three years as general manager at the Boat House in St Aubin. The Victoria in The Valley also won the Easenmyne Best Food award.
Mr Pledger said: "It's a real boost to be recognised in this way. It's a very competitive market in Jersey and places are having to work very hard at the moment to achieve the same results. It's great to be part of a new company, which has a lot of fresh, original ideas and is moving forward in the right direction".
The Liberation Group's Cock and Bottle won the Grolsch Al Fresco Award, Hannah Philips who works The Five Oaks won the Britvic Bar Person Award and Maria Holley who works at the Liberation Group tenanted pub The Wellington won the Liberation Group BII Graduate of the Year. The Pepsi Family Pub award was won by the Landmark Inn which is owned by the Liberation Group and was recently tenanted.
Simon Le Cornu Brown is the Regional Chairman of the British Institute of Inn Keeping, which has been running the awards in Jersey for the past ten years. He said: "It was the Liberation Group's night. We are extremely delighted for them and their continued support by being involved with these prestigious awards".
More than 20 pubs were shortlisted to the final and the winners were decided by an independent panel of 11 judges, from the tourist and hospitality sector.
