Northern Restaurant & Bar Top 50 Power List Announced

The hotly anticipated NRB Top Fifty Power List 2018 has finally been announced and has recognised the achievements of many. Among them are Arc Inspirations, who received a special award, and Thai Leisure Group, who have seen incredible growth since its inception.

The award was announced last week at the Northern Restaurant & Bar Show in Manchester on the 20th of March. The event runs annually and aims to bring the entirety of the Northern hospitality industry together for networking, discovery and innovation.

The top awards were given to the MD of cocktail and restaurant group, The Alchemist; recognised for building a hospitality empire 'steadily and organically, without the need for significant outside funding' , were Chris Ure and Martin Wolstencroft from Arc Inspirations; and recognised for their 'unique impact' on the region's food and drink sector were Jobe Ferguson and Ross Mackenzie, of Black Dog and Liars Club.

Hailing the success of the North's restaurant and bar scene was the CEO of Holden Media, the event organisers, Thom Hetherington, he said: "Despite tremors in the casual dining market, our NRB Top 50 entrants have shown no shortage of ambition" explained Hetherington: "Almost every one of the fifty has grand plans for expansion and new sites, and I am sure that 2018/19 will see a 'rise of the indies' which will play to the strengths of our great Northern operators."

Seen as a shining example at the event were Thai Leisure Group. The company are the owners of the brands Chaophraya, Thaikhun, Yee Rah Bar & Grill, and ChaoBaby. They operate a total of 21 sites which include eight Chaophraya, ten Thaikhun, one Yee Rah Bar and two ChaoBaby. The members representing the company in the NRB Top 50 is the chairwoman and owner, Kim Kaewkraikhot and Martin Stead.

Founded in 2005, the company have been operating for just 13 years. Last year, Thai Leisure Group turned over £30 million last year. They attribute their success to the drive, vision and passion of the shareholders and owners. They also reinvest all of their profits to fund their growth.

The group show particular interest in their interior designs, making each site unique, incorporating heritage design and contemporary design into their venues. A prime example is their work with Smart Hospitality Supplies, to create bespoke menu covers which are in line with their branding and core values. These metal menu covers show unique quality, whilst also emulating their contemporary style and structure.

In 2016, many of the Thai Leisure Group sites were awarded the prestigious Thai SELECT Premium Seal. The award was set up by the Royal Thai Government in 2003 to recognise quality Thai restaurants and cooking around the world.