Special achievement award for Michael O'Hare as NRB announce top 50 Northern Power List 2016

The Northern Restaurant and Bar announce top 50 Northern Power List 2016 with Michael O'Hare, Simon Rogan and Gary Usher all making the list.  Three special achievement awards were presented to Michael O’Hare of The Man Behind The Curtain, Mohammed Aslam MBE of Aagrah Restaurants, and the Mission Mars team made up of Roy Ellis, Neil Macleod, Joel Wilkinson, Adelaide Winter and Dan Mullen. This year's top 50 includes a mix of established names along with nine new entries and three special achievement awards. The leading trade exhibition, Northern Restaurant and Bar, also reveals 90% of those on the list plan on expanding over the next 12 months. In a recent survey by NRB and CGA Peach, Newcastle was revealed as the most 'restauranty' city in the North which also highlighted how close the leading Northern cities are getting to London. Thom Hetherington, CEO of organisers Holden Media, said: “We received a record number of entrants to the NRB Top Fifty this year, making the judging an arduous but ultimately very rewarding process." He continued, “Restaurants and bars created right here in the North are redefining what can be achieved in the local food and drink scene, both creatively and commercially, it is quite simply the best time ever to be a Northern foodie."

>>> Related: Newcastle is the North's most 'restauranty' city

Those who made the list will receive VIP invitations to events including the exclusive NRB Debate and the Too Many Critics Manchester dinner, and become part the NRB Top 50 Alumni association. The top 50 is conducted by a panel of Northern hospitality experts in hospitality finance, property, law and consultancy and is produced in association with Kuits Solicitors and sponsored by The Russell Partnership, Metis Real Estate and Jelf Manson, The awards reception, supported by Iberica Spinningfields, took place at 3pm on 16 March at the hospitality exhibition, Northern Restaurant & Bar. The reception also formed part of NRB Fringe including the NRB Debate and Action Against Hunger’s Too Many Critics Manchester dinner. NRB Top Fifty 2016 Martin Ainscough, Owner, Ainscoughs Mark Andrew, Managing Director, Mark Andrew Developments Sax, Arshad, Director, Mughli Haz Arshad, Director, Mughli Paul Askew, Chef Patron, The Art School Mohammed Aslam MBE, Owner, Aagrah Group Tim Bacon, Chairman, Living Ventures Paul Moran, Managing Director, Living Ventures Jeremy Roberts, CEO, Living Ventures Craig Bancroft, Managing Director, Northcote Nigel Haworth, Chef Patron, Northcote Ken Buckley, Managing Director, Bravo Inns Marie Carter, Director, Beautiful Drinks Beau Myers, Director, Beautiful Drinks Sue Crimes, MD, Gusto Morgan Davies, Founder / CEO, Barburrito Jimmy del Giudice, Operations Director, Revolution Bars Group plc Mark McQuater, CEO, Revolution Bars Group plc Carlo Distefano, Chairman, San Carlo Group Marcello Distefano, Managing Director, San Carlo Group James Douglas, Co Owner / Director, Reds True BBQ Scott Munro, Co Owner / Director, Reds True BBQ Roy Ellis, Director, Mission Mars Neil Macleod, Director, Mission Mars Dan Mullen, Director, Mission Mars Joel Wilkinson, Director, Mission Mars Adelaide Winter, Director, Mission Mars John, Ennis, Owner, Graffitti Spirit Matthew, Farrell, Owner, Graffitti Spirit Nick, Thomas, Owner, Graffitti Spirit Ged Feltham, CEO, Leelex Paul Lane, Managing Director, Leelex Jobe Ferguson, Director, Blackdog Ballroom Lyndon Higginson, Director, Blackdog Ballroom Ross Mackenzie, Director, Blackdog Ballroom Duncan Fisher, Owner, Apartment Group Kit Graves, Director, Lake District Hotels Charles Graves, Director, Lake District Hotels Dan, Hope, Sales & Marketing Director, Lake District Hotels Chri, Hill, Managing Director, New World Trading Company Chris Hopkins, MD, Hydes Brewery Matthew Jones, Managing Director, Jones Bar Group Ben Jones, Operations & Finance Director, Jones Bar Group Kim Kaewkraikhot, Chairwoman, Thai Leisure Group Martin Stead, Owner, Thai Leisure Group Peter Kinsella, Founder, Lunya Elaine Kinsella, Founder, Lunya Terry Laybourne, Owner, 21 Hospitality Group William Lees Jones, Managing Director, JW Lees James MacKenzie, Chief Proprietor, Pipe and Glass Mike Magrane, General Manager, The Midland Hotel Colin Manning, Managing Partner, 60 Hope St Gary Manning, Chef Patron, 60 Hope St Tomas, Maunier, Director, Fazenda Rodizio Bar & Grill Robert Melman, Director, Fazenda Rodizio Bar & Grill Stephen, Miles, General Manager, Radisson Blu Edwardian Manchester Dave Mooney, Co Owner & Chef Patron, New Moon Co Paul Newman, Managing Director, New Moon Co Lucy Nelson, Sales & Marketing Director, Nelson Hotels Andrew Nelson, Operations Director, Nelson Hotels Joycelyn Neve, Managing Director, Seafood Pub Company Michael O'Hare, Chef-Patron, The Man Behind the Curtain Eamonn O'Loughlin, Owner, Eclectic Hotels Si Ord, Owner, Sandinista Andrew Pern, Owner / Executive Chef, The Star at Harome/Star Inn The City Steve Pilling, Co Owner, Damson Group Simon Stanley, Co Owner, Damson Group Jonathan Poole, Director, Red and Blue Paddy Smith, Director, Red and Blue Oliver, Robinson, Managing Director, Frederic Robinson Simon Rogan, Co Owner, Umbel Restaurant Group Richard Smith, Chef Patron, Relax, Eat & Drink/ Brewkitchen Franco Sotgiu, Co-Owner, Solita Chris Ure, Owner, Arc Inspirations Martin Wolstencroft, Managing Director / Owner, Arc Inspirations Gary Usher, Owner, Sticky Walnut Steven Walker, CEO, Individual Restaurants Roger Ward, Owner, The Victorian Chophouse Company Marc Wilkinson, Chef Patron, Restaurant Fraiche