Casual Dining Restaurant & Pub Awards 2018: entries now open

The Casual Dining Restaurant & Pub Awards, organised by Diversified Communications UK, is now accepting entries for 2018.

The awards recognise and celebrate the standout restaurant and pub operators of the year across the growing multi-billion pound casual dining sector. Previous winners include wagamama, Las Iguanas, ASK Italian, The Breakfast Club, Peach Pub Company, JD Wetherspoon, Côte Restaurants, Zizzi, and Gourmet Burger Kitchen.

There are 17 categories for 2018, encompassing everything from new concepts and new openings, to menu innovation, employee engagement, marketing and design, as well as recognising the outstanding brands of the year. They’ll be judged by some of the biggest names in the business, including Bob Ivell, chairman of Mitchells & Butlers; Karen Forrester, CEO of TGI Friday’s UK; Mark Fox, CEO of Bill’s; Keith Bird, COO at GBK; and Kate Nicholls, chief executive of The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers.

Casual dining operators have until 30 October to submit their entries online at www.cdawards.co.uk.

The 2018 award categories are:

• Trailblazer of the Year (nominated by the judging panel)
• New Casual Dining Concept of the Year
• Best New Pub / Bar Site
• Best New Restaurant Site
• Small Employer of the Year (under 20 sites)
• Large Employer of the Year (20+ sites)
• Menu Innovation Award
• Marketing Campaign of The Year
• Best Designed Pub / Bar of the Year
• Best Designed Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year
• Independent Pub of the Year (under 5 sites)
• Independent Restaurant of the Year (under 5 sites)
• Small Multi-Site Pub Brand of the Year (5–19 sites)
• Small Multi-Site Restaurant of the Year (5–19 sites)
• Large Multi-Site Pub Brand of the Year (20+ sites)
• Large Multi-Site Restaurant of the Year (20+ sites)
• Casual Dining Group of the Year

The awards ceremony will take place on the evening of 21 February 2018 at the London Marriott Hotel, in Grosvenor Square, following the first day of the Casual Dining trade show. Confirmed sponsors already include Budweiser Budvar UK, Carlsberg, Coca-Cola European Partners, Essential Cuisine, Fentimans, Lamb Weston, McCain Foodservice, and Reynolds.

“It's vital that we reward and recognise the leaders of our industry, and showcase the talent and innovation within the casual dining sector,” says Jane Holbrook, CEO of wagamama.

For further information, to enter or to book tables, please visit www.cdawards.co.uk.

Save the date for Casual Dining 2018

Visitor registration for Casual Dining 2018 will open later this month. The UK’s only dedicated trade event for casual dining operators returns to the Business Design Centre in London next year, on 21-22 February. Over 5,000 attendees are expected.

“We don’t have to fly across the Atlantic to find the latest industry innovations under one roof any more – Casual Dining has brought all that and more to the UK," says Karen Forrester, CEO of TGI Friday’s UK.

“If you’re in casual dining then you should be at Casual Dining...it really is that simple!” says Mark Fox, CEO of Bill’s.

For more information, please visit www.casualdiningshow.co.uk.

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