The British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) has announced the six finalists for this year’s Licensee of the Year Award (LOYA).
Selected from a field of more than 800 nominees, the finalists have been selected based on their community impact, support for their teams, commitment to sustainability, plans for diversification, and the ‘X factor’ that makes brilliant pubs so special.
They all had exceptional mystery diner visit scores and faced financial and online audits, followed by face-to-face interviews in their pubs with head judges Amanda Hemming and Ashley McCarthy.
“We are very proud that the awards offer a value-added experience at every stage of the competition,” said Steve Alton, chief executive of the BII. “Our finalists will have had the opportunity to evaluate their businesses at every stage, from mystery customer reports and judging visit feedback, right through to our final judging day at Sky HQ on Monday, 15th June.
“I want to take this opportunity to congratulate all involved and wish them the best of luck for the final stages of the competition. I can’t wait to meet them all next month for our final judging day.”
All six finalists will be presented with a trophy at the BII Summer Event, on 16th June, where the winner will be announced.
The awards are held in partnership with Sky Business.
The finalists
Eamonn England and Arina Piskunova, The Windsor Castle, East Finchley
James and Charlotte Foy, The White Horse, Birstall
Linda Cole, The Berkeley Arms, Bosham
Micky Foden-Andrews, The Swan, Windsor
Nigel Smith, The Fleece Inn, Bretforton
Sonia Labatut, The Plough, East Sheen
