Liberation Group is celebrating having won the Pub and Bar award at this year’s Cateys, the annual hospitality awards, presented at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
Chief operating officer, Jayson Perfect, and director of food, Alice Bowyer, picked up the award.
The Pub and Bar category is open to businesses that run, own, or manage a pub or pub chain with a food element.
The judges were looking for sound business planning, a good grasp of financial matters, flair, innovation, a commitment to staff training, excellent customer service, and involvement in the community.
Alice said: “We have long been an admirer of the Catey awards throughout our careers and are so proud to have been recognised in this category.
“It is brilliant recognition for the years spent building our business, and for our talented teams who work tirelessly to deliver great plates of food and true hospitality. We share this with them. We are over the moon!”
Cateys Judges were impressed, particularly, by:
- The creation of a rooms and revenue team, driving bedroom sales, events, and occasions, which has boosted sales and occupancy levels
- Increased pub revenue, driven by experience-led events such as supper clubs, comedy festivals, and afternoon teas
- Customer loyalty and engagement. Liberation Group’s database of opted-in email subscribers has dramatically increased, along with its loyalty membership, visits to its website, and social media following
- A strong focus on employee wellbeing with their partnership with The Burnt Chef Project, running a calendar of training support. Apprenticeships are geared towards sponsoring under-represented groups, and a flexible working style has been introduced to help team members juggle childcare and other responsibilities around their work. Liberation Group also works with ex-offenders and those experiencing homelessness, through industry charities such as Only a Pavement Away.
- The group’s impressive sustainability efforts, aiming to be carbon neutral by 2030 through initiatives such as installing solar panels and sourcing local produce
- Community and charity initiatives, raising thousands of pounds for good causes, and the hosting of a ‘community week’ across all its pubs to support local charities, sports clubs, and community projects.
