15-11-06 Zonal present Pub Company of the Year award to Eldridge Pope

The best food operators in the business were honoured at the Pub Food Awards 2006 in a glittering ceremony at the Savoy, London.

Sponsored by Zonal Retail Data Systems, the prize for Pub Company of the Year went to the Dorset-based company, Eldridge Pope & Co, after a highly successful turnaround and strong food growth. The Eldridge Pope group encompasses inns, pubs and hotels trading under the ‘Room at the Inn’ brand and bar-restaurants trading under the 'Que Pasa' brand.

Eldridge Pope & Co fought off stiff competition from the Barracuda Group, St Austell Brewery and Mercury Inns to win this prestigious trophy.

Publican's editor Caroline Nodder said: "All the finalists have proved they are at the very top of their game by getting this far in what has been a very tough competition this year. Our judges really had their work cut out and the winners should very rightly be extremely proud of their achievement."

More than 460 people attended the sell-out event, hosted by comedian Paul Thorne.

Stuart McLean, Zonal MD (centre) is shown presenting the award to Tim Bird (left) Eldridge Pope’s Operations Director as Paul Thorne (right) looks on.