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BII announces semi-finalists for Licensee of the Year Award

Published:  19 February, 2013

Twelve UK licensees are to progress to the Britvic sponsored semi-finals in the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) Licensee of the Year Award.

Twelve UK licensees are to progress to the Britvic sponsored semi-finals in the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping) Licensee of the Year Award.

Those that have made it through the early rounds of assessment by impressing BII judges John Sharratt and John Vereker, are said to be "as diverse and eclectic a group of licensees as ever".

They include: Dennis Forsyth, licensee at the Cheers Café Bar & Tavern in Aberdeenshire, Richard Bell from The Silent Woman Inn in Dorset and Annie Power from The Coal Hole in London.

The semi-finalists will now be subject to a further round of analysis and examination, and the judges will be looking to short-list those licensees who demonstrate genuine passion, outstanding drive and the highest level of professionalism.

BII chief executive officer, Tim Hulme, said: "The BII Licensee of the Year Award is the ultimate accolade in the licensed trade. The award not only recognises their contribution to the industry but their personal qualities and attributes as well. Entrants face a particularly robust process and are required to demonstrate an on-going commitment to raising standards, innovation and an in-depth understanding of the industry. Importantly, all short-listed entrants benefit significantly from the mentoring they receive during the judging process.

He added: "This year saw an exceptionally high standard of entrant and among the highest number of applicants since the award was launched 28 years ago. Over the years, the BII has proudly watched as many of the previous winners have excelled in their particular area of work and I expect this year to be no different".

Last year's winner was Mahdis Neghabian, licensee at The Camden Eye in London.

Finalists will be scrutinised in front of a panel of nine judges before the overall winner is selected and announced at the BII Annual Lunch on May 14. bii.org/loya.

Licensee of the Year 2013, semi-finalists are:

Steve Herbert FBII - The Old Spot Inn Gloucestershire
Jo Eden MBII  - Reflex Arcadian Birmingham
Simon Bailey AMBII  -  The Bell Inn Middlesex
Ashely McCarthy CBII  -  Ye Old Sun Inn York
Richard Bell FBII  - The Silent Woman Inn Dorset
Tom Helliwell  - The Woodman London
Philip Cutter MBII  -  The Murderers Norwich
Annie Power MBII -  The Coal Hole London
Marc Jones FBII -  The Sportsman Surrey
Dennis Forsyth FBII - Cheers Café Bar & Tavern Aberdeenshire
Cheryl Hickman FBII - The Bull Inn Suffolk
Frazer Sutherland - The Thatch Oxfordshire

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