Azzurri Group, Wagamama, Oakman Inns, The New World Trading Co (NWTC), Dishoom and The Alchemist were among the winners at the Casual Dining Awards yesterday.
Dishoom received this year’s Trailblazer of the Year Award, while The Azzurri Group was named Casual Dining Group of the Year and Wagamama retained its title of Large Multi-Site Restaurant Brand of the Year (over 20 sites) for the third year in a row. It also added Menu Innovation (over 20 sites) and Marketing Campaign of the Year to its awards haul.
The New World Trading Company’s The Florist brand won three trophies, including New Casual Dining Concept of the Year, Best New Restaurant Site and Best Designed Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year – the latter two awards for its newly opened Liverpool venue. The company’s fourth award of the night was for ‘Employer of the Year’.
The Alchemist won another Best New Pub/Bar Site award. This time for their first welsh site – in Cardiff’s St Mary Street.
New awards categories this year included ‘Ethical Operator’ and ‘Best Family Dining Experience’, which went to Oakman Inns & Restaurants and Jamie’s Italian respectively.
Peter Boizot, the late founder of PizzaExpress, was remembered and recognised for his outstanding contribution to the casual dining industry. His posthumous Casual Dining Outstanding Contribution Award was accepted by Zoe Bowley, the company’s managing director, to a standing ovation.
Cabana, Charles Wells, Cosy Club (Loungers), Las Iguanas, Oakman Inns & Restaurants, and PizzaExpress were also highly commended in various categories.
The 2019 Casual Dining Restaurant & Pub Awards winners:
Trailblazer of the Year – sponsored by Trail
Winners: Kavi Thakrar & Shamil Thakrar, Dishoom
New Casual Dining Concept of the Year – sponsored by Reynolds
Winner: The Florist
Best New Pub / Bar Site – sponsored by Lamb Weston
Winner: The Alchemist – Cardiff
Best New Restaurant Site – sponsored by Arla PRO
Winner: The Florist – Liverpool
Ethical Operator Award – sponsored by RTW Checker
Winner: Oakman Inns & Restaurants
Employer of the Year – sponsored by Yapster
Winner: The New World Trading Company
Highly commended: Oakman Inns & Restaurants
Highly commended: PizzaExpress
Menu Innovation Award (1-19 sites) – sponsored by Essential Cuisine
Winner: Caravan
Highly commended: Cabana
Menu Innovation Award (20+ sites) – sponsored by Essential Cuisine
Winner: wagamama
Highly commended: Las Iguanas
Marketing Campaign of the Year – sponsored by Chef Direct
Winner: wagamama – ‘feed your inner good’
Best Designed Pub / Bar of the Year – sponsored by Commercial Kitchen
Winner: Dirty Martini, Birmingham – designed by Grapes Design
Best Designed Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by London Design Fair
Winner: The Florist – Liverpool
Best Family Dining Experience – sponsored by Belvoir Fruit Farms
Winner: Jamie’s Italian
Pub of the Year – sponsored by Fentimans
Winner: The Boathouse, Falmouth
Independent Restaurant of the Year (under 5 sites) – sponsored by Deliveroo
Winner: The Chilli Pickle
Multi-Site Pub Operator of the Year (5+ sites) – sponsored by Casual Dining
Winner: Oakman Inns & Restaurants
Highly commended: Charles Wells
Small Multi-Site Restaurant Brand of the Year (5-19 sites) – sponsored by Boutinot
Winner: Flat Iron
Large Multi-Site Restaurant Brand of the Year (20+ sites) – sponsored by Coca-Cola European Partners
Winner: wagamama
Highly commended: Cosy Club
Casual Dining Group of the Year – sponsored by Carlsberg UK
Winner: Azzurri Group
