Returning for its thirteenth edition, the Kuits NRB Top Fifty Hospitality Power List 2026 has been unveiled today at the annual Northern Restaurant and Bar (NRB) trade show in Manchester.

The esteemed list celebrates the top-performing and most influential hospitality operators across the North who have achieved exceptional commercial success and critical acclaim over the past year. 

Three Special Achievement Awards were presented to Nell’s Pizza, Cheshire Cat Pub & Bars and Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the hospitality industry.

New entries in the Kuits NRB Top Fifty Power List for 2026 include Cut & Craft, Shiko Group and Destination Dining Ltd. Additionally, several industry-leading operators return for another year, including Mission Mars, The Alchemist, House of Tides/Solstice by Kenny Atkinson and Bundobust.

Chris Brazier, Group Event Director for NRB26, said: “We are incredibly proud to unveil this year’s Kuits NRB Top 50 Power List, celebrating the very best in northern hospitality. The ambition, creativity and sheer determination we see from operators across the region is extraordinary.” 

“This list exists to shine a light on that, and we couldn’t be more proud to celebrate the businesses and individuals who have made the North such an exciting place to eat, drink and visit over the past year.”

Robert Levy, Executive Partner at Kuits, commented: “As committed legal partners to leisure and hospitality businesses, we’re honoured to sponsor and judge the Kuits NRB Top Fifty awards that spotlight the region’s most innovative and influential operators. The North has consistently showcased outstanding entrepreneurial spirit, and NRB offers an ideal stage for celebrating its vibrant food and drink sector. We’re delighted to be involved in this occasion and congratulations to all those who are listed in the Top Fifty.”

The top fifty names are selected by an expert judging panel following a rigorous research and selection process to ensure the finalists represent the very best operators in the competitive northern hospitality scene.

Headline sponsors for the awards are Kuits Solicitors, with NIQ, Uber Eats, JW Lees and NatWest Commercial & Private Banking also named as Associate Sponsors for the prestige list.

The full list in alphabetical order is as follows:

Apartment Group

Arc Inspirations

Archies

Bowland Inns & Hotels

Bundobust

Camerons Brewery

Caspatron Ltd (New Entry)

Cheshire Cat Pub & Bars (Special Achievement Award)

Common & Co (Special Achievement Award)

Cut & Craft, Lucia Restaurants (New Entry)

Daniel Schofield, Joe Schofield & James Brandwood

Daniel Thwaites

Destination Dining Ltd (New Entry)

Elite Bistros

Fat Hippo

Frederic Robinson

Gilpin Hotel & Lake House

Grantley Hall

GSG Hospitality

House of Tides/Solstice by Kenny Atkinson

JW Lees

Madre, Belzan, Salon Madre

Mission Mars

Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms (Special Achievement Award)

Mother Mercy

Mowgli Street Food

New World Trading Company

Northcote

NQ64

Orenda Hospitality

Ossett Brewery Pub Company

Pivovar Ltd

Professionals At Play & Concept Taverns

QVO Hospitality

Rockingham Group, Kelham Island Brewery & Leah’s Yard 

San Carlo Group

Seafood Pub Company

Seven Bro7hers

Shiko Group (New Entry)

Southern Wind Group

Stow, Trof 

Sukho Group (New Entry)

The Alchemist

The Inn Collection Group

The Tommy Banks Group

Tokyo Industries

Tomahawk Steakhouse

Umbel Restaurant Group

Vaulkhard Group

Zanna Group