Henley: Brakspear reaches finals of Publican Awards 2020

Henley-based brewer and pub operator Brakspear has reached the finals of the Publican Awards 2020, a national competition that rewards the best operators in the UK pub industry. The company is through to the finals for Best Accommodation Operator, winners of which will be announced in March.

The Publican Awards, run by leading pub magazine The Morning Advertiser,  are open to pubs across the UK and are widely regarded as the ‘ones to win'. Brakspear has secured its finalist place for the accommodation at nine of its managed pubs.

The Best Pub Accommodation Award will be given to the pub group which offers guests the best overnight stay, with judges looking for first-rate comfort and design in the bedrooms, outstanding customer service and a tasty breakfast. All Brakspear's pub rooms are decorated and furnished to high standards with features such as roll-top baths and rainfall showers, super-comfortable beds with Egyptian cotton linens and Nespresso coffee machines.

Reaching the finals is the first stage in the Publican Awards' rigorous judging process. The next steps include a visit by judges to several of the pubs, professional mystery visits and a panel interview in London for the Brakspear senior management team.

Brakspear's nine pubs with rooms are:

• The Chequers, Marlow
• The Lion, Wendlebury, Bicester
• The Porch House in Stow-in-the-Wold
• Sheep on Sheep Street, Stow-in-the-Wold
• George Townhouse, Shipston-on-Stour
• Frogmill in Shipton Oliffe near Cheltenham - which reopened in 2018 and is a wedding/events venue as well as offering accommodation, dining and a pub.
• Townhouse, Stratford-upon-Avon
• The Crown at Playhatch near Reading
• Running Horses in Mickleham, Surrey.

Editor of The Morning Advertiser Ed Bedington said "We had record entries into the Publican Awards this year, so our judges had a difficult task in choosing the finalists from a very talented field. All the pubs that have reached the shortlist deserve to be very proud of their achievement and we wish them all good luck with the next stage of the judging, and look forward to announcing the winners in March."

Winners of the Publican Awards 2020 will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on March 4, attended by hundreds of guests from across the pub industry.