CEO of Oakman Inns, owner of three pubs across West Midlands & Warwickshire
Published on Monday, 09 July 2018
On Tuesday
night, 3rd
July, at London’s Grosvenor House, Peter Borg-Neal, CEO of local pub operator,
Oakman Inns, (see Oakman Collection below), was recognised with a Pub
& Bar Award at the 35th Annual ‘Cateys’, one of the hospitality industry’s
highest awards for pub operators.
The Cateys
are one of the UK’s most respected industry awards and every year the best of
Britain’s chefs, hoteliers, publicans, brewers, suppliers and managers eagerly
wait to see if they have been shortlisted by the distinguished judging panel.
Peter has
been an integral part of the hospitality industry for almost forty years. At
16, he started work as a cellar boy and by 2002 had become a divisional
director at both Allied Domecq and Whitbread. However, creating his own unique
brand was now his driving force, and in 2005, he founded Oakman Inns and opened
his first pub, The Akeman in Tring, in December 2007, establishing the new
concept of a ‘modern public house’. Ten and a half years later, the pub
group, which is ranked in the Top 20 of the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to
Work For, is operating 22 distinctive pubs, employing nearly 800 people across
Southern England and the West Midlands and is opening its 23rd pub, Royal
Foresters in Ascot, at the end of this month.
Peter is
thrilled that the work that he and his fellow professionals at Oakman Inns has
been recognised by their peers. He said: “Ever since I was first flicking
through the appointments section of The Caterer & Hotelkeeper as a
teenager, the magazine has been a big influence in my career. Back then, I
aspired to being mentioned in an article or even on to the front cover! Winning
this Catey means so much to me and symbolises a significant milestone in my
career. Every day, I realise how lucky I am to be working in this dynamic
industry and to be supported by such a talented team."
One Award
judge, Kate Nicholls, UKHospitality’s Chief Executive, said: “A relentless
focus on continuing improvement in business, community investment and people.
The award recognises Peter’s commitment to bringing old buildings back to life
and the regeneration impact association with it, as well as industry leadership
on initiatives to do with straws single-use plastics, environmental concerns
and promotion of diversity in the sector.”
Another
judge, Paul Salisbury, Lovely Pubs’ MD, commented: “He won for his work
promoting the industry and working on great causes. A year of exceptional
growth in a tough climate.”