Anglian Country Inns celebrates winning 'Best Premium Food Offer 2024' title at the prestigious 'Publican Awards'

They've won it again!

The renowned owners of Hitchin's Hermitage Rd Bar & Restaurant have landed a major industry award for the quality of their mouth-watering offerings.

Anglian Country Inns, which runs 'The Herm' as well as a raft of other superb establishments near and far - including The Fox at Willian - have been deservedly celebrating their acclaimed honour.

Howard Nye, ACI operations director said: 'We are more than delighted to have won the Best Premium Food Offer title at The Publican Awards again this year.

"This award reflects the hard work that goes in, and our ongoing dedication to providing, top-quality food and drink experiences for our customers across North Norfolk and Hertfordshire. 

"The hospitality industry has been, and continues to be, an ever changing, ever challenging environment, so to be recognised for delivering the best premium food is truly an astonishing accolade and truly appreciated."

ACI scooped the gong, Best Premium Food Offer at The Publican Awards, which is about as close as it gets to the Oscars in hospitality.

What makes the victory even more remarkable is that this is the fifth time ACI has won the category in the last ten years.

ACI says the honour is a huge reward for all the effort they have put into nurturing more than 25 years of relationships with local suppliers, driving sustainability through their business and training their teams to be the very best, ultimately creating delicious dishes for customers from the wonderful mix of kitchens across their family business.

Popular ACI boss Howard added: "As much as we cook great food and create beautiful environments, what really gets us out of bed each morning is the desire to make people happy.

"Putting a smile on our guests faces might sound cheesy, but it is what drives us to do what we do each, and every day.

"It always has been ever since Cliff Nye, first saw an opportunity in a little rundown pub on the Norfolk coast 28 years ago.

"His ambitions then were to cook good food without pretension, have a little fun and make people happy along the way.

"We have worked hard to preserve this simple mission as we have grown the business, and it is so good to see us getting national recognition 28 years later."

Modest Howard also paid tribute to all the ACI teams that helped make the company so successful.

"None of this would have been possible without our phenomenal kitchen teams," Howard said, adding: "from pot wash to head chef (many of whom have worked their way up through our kitchens).

"Kumour Uddin, our Head of Food, has followed the path at ACI himself and is passionate about seeing our other family of chefs do the same.

"Our amazing Front of House teams continue to welcome everyone and deliver friendly service, complimenting the talent we have in the kitchens. There are many more unseen team members who are integral to deliver the great experience."

All companies shortlisted in the awards are outstanding businesses, so to come out ahead is a fantastic achievement and one to be proud of for ACI.

It's not an easy trading environment for the hospitality sector now, but award winning companies such as ACI are embracing those challenges and delivering incredible results in spite of the adversity they face - which is wonderful to see.

Ed Bedington, Editor of The Morning Advertiser, which organises the awards, added: "These awards are the Oscars for the hospitality trade and are the ones to win for all operators in the sector.

"The judging process is rigorous and fair, and we put all our finalists through their paces before picking out our final winners."